computer theft/ciber pirate

[Gary m. weber]

This is a question for anyone who has computer knowledge or know cyber stuff. This is a true event....My friend Has now gone through her 4th system in less than 2 years. What I mean is ,she get a set up, screen,keyboard,mouse,pc,speakers,the basic deal, then has local cable co. hook up modem hi speed, and not less than a week someone has some how got into her system and wiped away all programss,files,tools, pretty much everything, or they take thing out, and put other things in,all from somewhere but on her actual PC. is that possible. she even called the cable people and said dont worry about it. as her info on everything is dissappearing before our eyes. help

[95Batmobile]

seems to me it is somebody she knows.

You can download a trojan (virus) that gives people total access to your computer...

Seems like she is downloading the same file and the same person is messing with her.

[3.4 slow to go]

I guess somepeople don't beleive in firewalls. Maybe she hould switch to dial-up??? If she didn't learn after the first attempt, well, "here's your sign"

[Gary m. weber]

We both have an ideal on the person who is scabing but I was wanting to know other than actualy breaking in the house and messing with her PC, if they can somehow remotely activate her system or just go in and out whenever. Even when she dont even have the damm thing turned on.

[Rob@USC]

Can someone get onto her computer remotely?
Yes.

While it's off...
not to my knowledge.

I agree with the previous posts, she might have a trojan on her computer that she keeps downloading. My suggestion is to get a good anti-virus program that runs in the background and reports any suspicious activities and that she gets a firewall of some type, either a software version or a router.

My computer has antivirus running in background, had a software firewall (until I reformatted yesterday), has the windows firewall (for what it's worth) and is behind a router (wired, not wireless). All that in addition to what my school has on the network already. My CS major friend says it's overkill, but I'm comfortable knowing it's that much harder for someone to get to my computer.

That may be a bit much for her, but at least get antivirus and (preferably) a router too.

Also, she shouldn't need to get a new computer when that happens. I'm assuming these are manufactured computers, so they probably come with restore CD's that can re-write the hard drive info. Just follow the instructions on how to redo the comp using them and she should be fine.

-Rob

EDIT: Now that I think of it, it is possible for someone to remotely turn on her computer if it's set to wake on LAN or USB (depending on if her cable modem is ethernet or USB). If her computer has that wake on [whatever], they could possibly be remotely turning on her computer through that.

[C.O.Jones]

Damn, I typed all this up before I read your edit. :D

You could get to the computer if you have wake on lan turned on in the bios. My Athalon 2200 had that set. I'd shut it down in Windows, and it would pop right back in within 5 or so seconds. Then I would have to manually hold the power button in to turn it off permanently.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, it is possible for someone to remotely turn on her computer if it's set to wake on LAN or USB (depending on if her cable modem is ethernet or USB). If her computer has that wake on [whatever], they could possibly be remotely turning on her computer through that.

[Rob@USC]

Originally posted by C.O.Jones:
Damn, I typed all this up before I read your edit. :D

You could get to the computer if you have wake on lan turned on in the bios. My Athalon 2200 had that set. I'd shut it down in Windows, and it would pop right back in within 5 or so seconds. Then I would have to manually hold the power button in to turn it off permanently.

</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />EDIT: Now that I think of it, it is possible for someone to remotely turn on her computer if it's set to wake on LAN or USB (depending on if her cable modem is ethernet or USB). If her computer has that wake on [whatever], they could possibly be remotely turning on her computer through that.

</font>[/QUOTE]Second thoughts are awesome! :D

As another second thought: if she does get a router, I have had more success with Linksys than with Netgear.

I got a Netgear router for my dad the day after Thanksgiving for $20 on sale. I had a lot of trouble with the Netgear and after talking with "William" from Netgear's tech support (which apparently is located in India) for almost an hour after buying that router, his suggestion was to take it back and get another one.

I had gotten myself a Linksys to use at school about 2 months before the Netgear and have had no problems with it (other than it making me disconnect/reconnect to AIM every 30 min or so, but I fixed that after some research online). It's setup isn't as 'user friendly,' but if you know someone who's familiar with routers, read the instructions, or just call the tech support, I'm sure you can get it going.

[wickedfirebird]

lets see someone is wiping out her computer all the time (instead of reinstalling windows she buys a new computer each time,brilliant),stealing wires out of her car sounds like the ***** is paranoid and ignorant

[camaro_speedemon]

A friend is screwing with her, or it's spyware most likely.

[Jerriko]

Stop visiting porn sites!

[majeskyb]

I suggest getting Nortan system works (includes other things that are helpful, beside just the anti-virus), Zone Alarm pro (great firewall), and a router with a built in firewall. That way she'd have both hardware and software firewalls, and would be pretty safe. Another thing, if you guys want to spend some time. Go into the advanced TCP/IP settings, and lock down all ports that you wouldn't be using (ie. 80=web). One of the nice things about Zone Alarm, is once it's configured, it never bothers you until there is a serious attempt by someone/thing to access your computer. As a benefit, it also doubles as an ad blocker. With nortan, whenever you add a file or go to run one, it automatically scans it first, so if she does have a trojan, it would alert her before it is ran, and she can just delete it before anything happens to her computer. If you get any more info, let us know.

[Speedin96]

Yes there are ways to remotely turn on a pc as long as it has a certain nic and when your done you can shut it down, i currently use VNC RAdmin and other tools to access my computer at home along with being able to access the router from an outside ip and administer it from work i also have access to my buddies computers cause they always wanting me to fix something. EXCEPT TODAY CAUSE CABLE IS DOWN!

i also use no-ip.com to gain an DNS address and the no-ip DUC client to keep my systems dynamic ip always updated with the domain name... as well as my buddies computers they also have the no-ip client with a domain name for their computer

just with RAdmin i can reboot a system. without even having to take control of the mouse and clicking on start/shutdown/reboot, i just send a reboot signal.

[5SpeedBird]

What most people don't know or realize with cable. Your sharing a network with your neighbors.
Your all connected to each other directly. Its not like a phone line where you need to dial to get acces. Your all hooked up and love all the time. Chances are its someone she lives near that enjoys mesing with her and then hears about it.

cable is bad unless you know how to secure your system. Its kind of like stealing cable. You just need access to it. The rest is child play on just tuning inthe right stuff as. Cables sends everything, everywhere. All the data is there to steal. Kind of like wireless. easy, easy to hack or steal.

Only reason phones line are more secure as you must dial into the phone company and go through their networks first. with cable. Ya don't need to do anything, your live 24/7.

[Gary m. weber]

Thank you. All the info has been helpful and i understand alittle more now. Also gona get a security camara installed, just in case this punk is comeing in the house. I need proof or its his word against mine. thanks again folks.