Help my sister with computer security, someone else looking?

Help my sister with computer security, someone else looking?

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Discussion

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Most of my family including me are quite useless on computers.

My sister has recently messily split with her long term partner.

She has kept the family laptop so the children can still do their homework, however of late the ex partner has been asking about things he shouldn't know about.
She has also changed the broadband supplier and the little tab thing with all the codes has gone missing during his last visit.

We are assuming he has installed something that allows him to access the laptop from elsewhere - is this easily checked and if so how?
Anything else do try? - and please keep it simple!

Many thanks!

bingybongy

3,858 posts

145 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Change all your passwords, email facebook etc.
If using facebook go to settings and set everything to friends only.

Not exhaustive but a start.

NDA

21,490 posts

224 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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How competent is the ex at computer stuff? If he's put a key logger on there, it might be hard to find.

randlemarcus

13,507 posts

230 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
DO you have anybody who IS good with computers. Keyloggers can be tricky to find - easiest way is a rebuild.

davepoth

29,395 posts

198 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
randlemarcus said:
DO you have anybody who IS good with computers. Keyloggers can be tricky to find - easiest way is a rebuild.
It's unlikely though - chances are that he just has her facebook password or that her profile is open to friends of friends (assuming that they still have some in common). Do that first.



extraT

1,740 posts

149 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
A new lappy costs just a few hundred quid and will be more than enough for the kids to do homework. Free open source software like open office is a good alternative to the expense of Microsoft. A new lappy is a better way for peace of mind, especially as you guys don't have the knowledge to go looking for key loggers etc...

bitchstewie

50,791 posts

209 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
extraT said:
A new lappy costs just a few hundred quid and will be more than enough for the kids to do homework. Free open source software like open office is a good alternative to the expense of Microsoft. A new lappy is a better way for peace of mind, especially as you guys don't have the knowledge to go looking for key loggers etc...
That's the way I'd lean if you really think he's likely to have done something like that.

You can run stuff like MalwareBytes but there's plenty of stuff out there that won't be detected and with all due respect to the OP it's clear they haven't a clue what to be looking for so rather than be forever paranoid about it, it's probably a few hundred quid well spent if the existing one can't be re-imaged.

Do the obvious stuff too like change any passwords especially email as those are where any "I need to reset my password" reminders are typically sent.

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
All passwords have been changed a few times now.

It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?

We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.

bitchstewie

50,791 posts

209 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Blakeatron said:
All passwords have been changed a few times now.

It is odd things he knows - like new clothes/electrical that have been bought, possible holiday destinations etc. Probably easily available from her emails?

We will be buying her a new laptop asap, frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
Who does she use for email? If it's GMail or Outlook (or probably most webmail providers) they will show you recent logons and locations.

It will be easy for the computer shop so don't worry about being able to get the data off once it's in the hands of someone who knows what they're doing with it (no offence intended at all smile)

jacobpalmer05

451 posts

161 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
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Is she able to send you photos for you to upload? Might be worth checking Add / Remove programs.

If windows 7, press the start button in the bottom left, then control panel bottom left of the box that opens will say "Uninstall a program".

This will open a list of almost all the installed programs on the machine, assuming he is using some remote login software hopefully it'll be listed here, if she could take a picture of all installed programs (Will take 2-3 pictures as the list might be long) and if you post it here, it might be something as simple as a remote desktop program that you can uninstall.

Blakeatron

Original Poster:

2,514 posts

172 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Will have a word with her tomorrow and see if she can take a screenshot, thanks for the advice!

Blown2CV

28,697 posts

202 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
If he's installed a key logger then changing passwords won't help. Either blat the machine or install security software and do a scan. I'd be tempted to the former though, and password changes.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

187 months

Sunday 22nd February 2015
quotequote all
Higher versions of Windows can allow remote monitoring. As suggested local Pc shop will get off photos and reinstall OS for a fee.


Ask for a password reminder from the broadband suppliers, log in as administrator and change the password.


AstonZagato

12,652 posts

209 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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He might have done something as simple as autoforward of emails.

FrankAbagnale

1,700 posts

111 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
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I use a piece of software called "logmein" and it allows me to pick up my iphone or ipad and watch/control the PC that logmein is installed on.

It is on my work PC, and I sit at home on my ipad sorting out all my tasks I didn't want to stay late in the office and do.

Could be another option.

arun1uk

1,045 posts

197 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
If she is using Google Chrome Browser and it is synchronised with another device (i.e. Tablet/Mobile) it would explain how he knows about everything.

If she is, simply "log out" of Chrome, or open a new Gmail account, or use Internet Explorer etc.

The other option is to backup all data and reinstall the operating system.

sgrimshaw

7,311 posts

249 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Blakeatron said:
frustratingly he has set himself up as administrator and getting things like the pictures and videos off is not easy. Might ask the local shop to have a look, was just hoping it would be something easy.
Just buy a USB disk caddy, remove drive from the laptop and pop it in the caddy.

The disk will then be a USB Hard Drive, so you can simply browse the disk and copy off any data that you want.

Unless the laptop is an old one, the HDD is likely to be a 2.5" SATA - but the safest thing to do is to pull the disk out and check first. The difference is quite easy to spot:




Plenty of caddys on ebay/Amazon, but PC World sells them cheaply enough:

If it is a 2.5" SATA then this will do nicely:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...

If it's a 2.5" IDE then you'd need one like this:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...

You can also get one that can do either:

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/components-upgrades/...

qube_TA

8,402 posts

244 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Do you have any suitable friends who could do all this for you?

No reason to buy a new computer or hardware over this, it's just software.

It wouldn't take me long to sort it out, would be happy to do so but you're a bit of a trek from Leeds.




randlemarcus

13,507 posts

230 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Given the OP has said they have no technical ability, don't recommend technical solutions smile

Local computer shop, data only transfer to new device or rebuilt old device. Look at two factor I.e. password plus sms code for Gmail or hotmail.

If the OPs sister is bored, honeytrap the various things like a holiday on email, a child's achievement on Facebook and see which one the ex picks up on.

SlidingSideways

1,345 posts

231 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Blown2CV said:
If he's installed a key logger then changing passwords won't help. Either blat the machine or install security software and do a scan. I'd be tempted to the former though, and password changes.
Set up two factor authentication if it's available (is is on Google, Apple and Outlook.com email accounts). It will send a code to her mobile that must be entered before login is allowed.
It can also be set up to alert her to logins from other devices.

As others have said though, a new laptop or new hard disk and re-install prior to this is probably a sensible idea.l