Being Spied on?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Being Spied on?
17
Fri, 03-11-2005 - 2:29pm

Well if I am, everything I've posted here, as well as any letters I've written to XMM, emails, chats, have been read by someone. Everytime I run a spyware program, it keeps showing up with "remote keylogger". I delete it, run it again immediately, and the program is gone. Being the paranoid person I am, I run it a few hours later, and it's back on. This has been going on for weeks now on my home computer. I ran one at work today, and found the same thing on that one. I'm beginning to get spooked now.

I know it's not my H, I told him about what I've been finding and he's just as pissed about it as I am (well me moreso because I have things to hide obviously), besides, he knows very little about computers. I'm beginning to think it's XMM. There's also a slight chance of it being someone XMM and I both know, but either way, someone, even if it's someone unknown to me, is enabling a remote keylogger onto my computers.

I urge everyone to be careful with covering your computer tracks. Run a spyware program often and read up on keyloggers. It'll freak ya out, especially with all of us coming from a place that privacy is of the utmost importance.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2004
Fri, 03-11-2005 - 4:19pm

ok,

your freaking me out! How do you do that spyware thing? Do you have to pay for it? I pretty much only log on at work...how do I know if anyone knows what website I go on?

Dipss

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Fri, 03-11-2005 - 4:47pm

I'm freaking out too..I went out today and bought a book about computer security. I will be sure to pass along anything I find out to the board. It really sucks to think that anything I may have written has been read by someone..and then the question is "who" is it? I'm not sure that part is tracable, but I just want to be able to block these programs from installing on my computer.

You can download spyware programs to search for programs like these. Also, if you have AOL, you can use their spyware (which is what is discovering the keyloggers). Do an internet search for spyware removal (spybot is a good one).

I'm beginning to feel this isn't random, but someone that is really interested in what I am doing. I actually hope it IS XMM, because at least then it isn't a 3rd party that could use this against me. But even if it is XMM, I'm not too sure about how I feel about him reading the things I post here, ..someplace I felt I could be safe and speak my mind.

I will pass along any other helpful tips as I find them.




Edited 3/11/2005 4:48 pm ET ET by hurtpup
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-03-2005
Fri, 03-11-2005 - 5:26pm
I guess he could find out your particular name on here to figure out what you've written, but really anyone can read this. It's not a private pw-protected board. You have to sign up to post, but not to read it.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 2:43pm

Just my 2cents worth......

When XMM and my A was discovered, it was partically due to a keylogger program, plus a tracking device attached to each of our vehicles by a PI. In my case, it was the XMM wife and her PI.

You have every right to be upset and I would hire a computer expert or local technician to check your computer system out to undo any programs and possibly tell you the source. As far as work, go to your IS person and ask him to check your computer out. Any such programs should not be getting by security set up by your IS Dept at work. Don't be afraid to say anything, that is what they are there for.

Good Luck,
Lillsilly

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-18-2005
Sat, 03-12-2005 - 4:41pm

All,

I use a anti-spyware program from a company called Giant to scan my computer automatically everyday. It is amazing, it picks off a half dozen little programs every day, and I am not going anywhere special that I should be concerned about.

I recommend y'all get this program and have it run automatically everyday. Even if all the spyware it finds are not harmful, these things are slowing down your drive.

I installed this program on my brother's computer 2-weeks ago and found over 900 pieces of spyware!

By the way, I just checked, and Giant was bought by Microsoft, so the program is now owned by Microsoft. You can download the program here:

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx

Good luck all.
CD

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 8:33am

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I know anyone can read this, but if he has no idea that I go onto this board, and wouldn't know unless he was able to find out by way of the keylogger what sites I go into. Therefore, he could find out what name I use here and could have read every word of what I've been posting for months.

Just don't like the idea that he could possibly have access into whats going on inside my head. Even though that would really suck, that would be the best case scenerio, to have it be XMM, because if it's someone else, then they have potentially harmful information.

I've been running anti-spyware programs on my computers several times a day. It doesn't seem to matter if I run it first thing in the morning. Because once I get rid of it, a few hours later I find it back again, so this seems to be a never-ending task.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 12:40pm

Chill already. Why would MM give a rat's behind what you posted on a message board? He knows he's safe as long as you have something to lose like your marriage. Hasn't he already moved on to the next big thing anyway? It's not personal, no one you know is spying on you.

You have a virus which may be a trojan or keylogger. It's running other applications. This is what your anti spyware programs are noticing. Ending the application accomplishes exactly nothing since the virus simply refreshes itself each time you use whatever program it's embedded in and/or each time you reboot.

Update your normal antivirus program. If you don't have one or it's not updated weekly, you can safely bet the ranch you're riddled with viruses and other nasties.

Ensure your antivirus program settings enable hidden & system files to be checked by your antivirus program. This alone gets a lot of people. Now reboot into Safe Mode. Run your antivirus program while in Safe Mode. This should pick up whatever nasty is lurking in there.

Now go to two or three different antivirus program websites. Run their freebie online checkers. What do they tell you? What one might miss, another may well pick something up. Most times even the freebie sites will give you a removal tool and step by step instructions on how to remove the

Here's a freebie online checker from Norton. http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym

Here's a freebie online checker from McAfee.
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?cid=9913

If this is too much like hard work then just take it to a pc whizz who will charge you to do this for you.

Riven

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 12:58pm

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Why would he care what I post on a message board? He's gone to sites before that he's known me to post on and has read what I've posted there. That I know for a fact..he's made comments regarding my postings before on a mens board and brings up certain things I've written. And it's not so much the fact that I've posted here that bothers me, but any other personal information that I may have written during this time that I don't want him or anyone for that matter, reading my personal stuff. And yes, he WOULD give a rats behind what I post..if it has to do with him and me and what I'm thinking/feeling regarding this breakup,.. yes it would be of GREAT interest. I was the one that ended it, not him.

<>

Do you know this for sure?? Because I don't.

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But I'm not simply ending it, the programs I am running tells me they are deleting them. I, too, wondered if it had to do with me rebooting and the program simply refreshing itself because of it being buried perhaps somewhere else on my computer..but it comes back WITHOUT me rebooting.

My anti-virus software is updated, all the updates for XP is updated, I run several different types of spyware removal software, several times a day. However, I will try the other recommendations you listed to see if that works.

I don't think I'm being paranoid, just careful. It may not be him..but I still believe, if it's not him, then its someone him and I both know...I have reasons to believe this could be true.

Thanks for the computer tips..I'll give it a whirl.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-27-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 2:22pm

Depending on what part of the registry and which program the virus has settled itself it refreshes itself with no reboot needed. This is common amongst viruses today.

Unless MM is an experienced hacker it's highly unlikely he'd be able to do anything even if you gave him your IP addresses and an open port as well as all your security passwords. It's unlikely he'd even know anyone with the ability and knowledge to be able to do this for him. Your virus sounds like the million and one viruses I regularly deal with as system administrator for my office.

Im not being mean but you are being paranoid. After 8 years in an A I know A's do that to people lol. Try not to overestimate your importance or MM's interest. MM had whatever it was he wanted from you just like had whatever you wanted from MM. Both married and you ended it right? You cancel each other out in the threat stakes since if he loses you lose too.

Run the checks I mentioned, if something turns up then run the appropriate removal tool(s), follow the step by step amendments to the registry and if nothing shows up or the av package can't fix it just take it to a pc whizz who can reformat if it can't be fixed.

$20 bucks to the tsunami fund says it's nothing more sinister than a virus lol.

Riven

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Mon, 03-14-2005 - 2:56pm

I wasn't saying that IF it was XMM that he would be doing it with malicious intent in mind..but rather his own curiousity. So the idea that he has as much to lose isn't really relavant here. He's done it before Riven, not hacked into my computer, but have gone through other extents to find out more about what I'm doing. He's not done with the A, or me, and wants to keep me in his life at least as a friend. I'm the one that keeps pushing HIM away. Like I said, IF it is him, it's not him looking to hurt me, but rather to gain more information about my personal life..because he always thought I'd move onto another A if things with him ended.

And as far as having the ability or knowledge, they sell these remote keyloggers EVERYWHERE..and very cheap too. In fact, for a moment I even considered trying it myself, but probably wouldn't like what I'd find out..so I thought I'd better leave well enough alone. From what I've read about keyloggers, they are very easy to use, can be sent from one computer to another without the users knowledge. Doesn't take a computer nerd to buy and use one.

Still, I REALLY appreciate the tips you've given me. Call me paranoid, but I can't take that chance. I'm not saying I'm certain it's someone that knows me, but even if it's not and it IS just a random virus..it is STILL unacceptable for anyone to steal passwords, credit card numbers, etc. Agreed?

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