how is this possible???

Question

my daughter was on our computer and i came in the room to talk to her. well, the curser on the screen was moving and clicking things and my daughter was NOT touching the mouse. i asked her what is happening and she told me that her friend (in another state) is doing something in our computer. i was so freaked out cause i have never seen that and wondered how this person was able to do this without my permission.


how is this possible? how did this person get into our computer? is this what "hacking" is? how do i know if this is still happening?

(sorry so many questions, this really upset me)

thank you for all the answers! i appreciate them!

yes, i have windows xp

Answer 1

It is called Remote Assistance or Remote Access Programs. They are put on by the computer mfgr. to allow technician to have remote access to your computer to fix problems. You can also allow others access also.

What your daughter has done is very dangerous. She nor you knows what that boy has done or installed on your computer. You don't know what info he has gotten from it either. This is a very good way for him to install a Keylogger program on your computer, and will know every keystroke typed on it. Everything, including bank account info, passwords and personal emails can be read with one of these programs.

You need to run Anti-Virus and Anti-Spy programs and see if any Malware is found on your computer. Especially a keylogger. You need to change all your passwords and any other info that was on it you consider sensitive. This might include cancelling credit cards if that info is on the computer.

Your daughter, apparently didn't explain what she did or how it worked, although she knew. This would create a serious trust issue between me and my daughter.

A Veterans group I belong to has several of its members who had their Identies stolen by their childrens friends. Their children did the same thing your daughter did. Allowed others Remote Access to their computers.

If I sound serious about this, I mean too! Your daugher has exposed you and your family to serious risk. Not only finiancially but personally. If you doubt the seriousness of what she did, then go to the FBI and FTC web site and have your eyes opened.

If you don't think the boy can do this, well, Microsoft Security says most of these kind of crimes are comitted by teenage boys with a serious anger towards their parents. Many believe they are getting even by hurting any adult, even their friends parents.

Answer 2

Not really 'Hacking' (which is really just looking under the 'hood' to see the engine!). And it isn't 'Cracking', which is probably what you meant, where someone enters a computer without permission.

Yes, well, Windows, besides being susceptable to over 150,000 Microsoft Virus Definitions, those nasty trojans, spy-bots, mal-ware, adware, pop-ups, and pop-ins, offers ways to control your computer from any other one in the world!!!

That is NOT 'cracking', it is the EVIL EMPIRE showing you what it does all the time, whenever you are hooked up to the Internet! Microsoft gets files emailed to it that contain the logs of everywhere you've been, plus every keystroke you've ever made, plus, ALL your emails!

How do you think the little windows open to tell you that an 'update' is eady to be downloaded? Your 'Windows' computer really does 'call home' everytime you go 'on-line'.

That is what the red light blinking of your hard drive activity is all about!

Now, if you want it to STOP, you go and get the LiveCDrom of PClinuxOS, that boots in CD, runs in RAM disc (memory), and doesn't let anyone else control your computer, or peek at all your private data and emails!

Answer 3

no short aswers here, if you are riunning a windows based PC with the XP operating system and above then you have a facility to request "remote assistance" from anyone with the same operating system.
this could also be net meeting where users can share information and control another users computer.

and yes it could be authorised hacking. normaly a hacker will not ask for permission to gain access to your computer. if you are uncomfortable with this then go through the control panel and find the remote desktoop facility and turn it off.
double check your daughter has a child or teenager account and is not set as an administrator. now restrict what programs she can access. this should prevent her from authorising this in the future.
also make sure your firewall is currently configured for maximum effect. go to www.grc.com and run the tests and fix any problems found with your firewall.
now also make sure your security software is up to date by running the update utility atleast once a day and scanning at a minimum of twice a week with NO exceptions to what the scan actually checks.

Answer 4

Firstly, consider that your daughter may know a bit more than you when it comes to computers. I have this problem with my parents. :)

Secondly, Windows XP comes with software, "Remote Desktop Connection", that allows you to transfer control to someone else on the Internet. You (or in this case, your daughter!) have to give explicit permission to do this, which sounds like what happened here. This is usually used when you are stuck with something on your computer, and you want to get help from someone you know on the Internet.

Answer 5

yes this is a remote desktop connection program that windows provide usually for repairing troubleshoot in our computer. simply we can contact technician to repair our computer from remote distance by using this program. but the remote person must be trusted site , so the computer can be repaired safely. anyway there is many program that can use remode desktop connection beside windows provided itself. u can try windows have by control panel>system>remote tab>then check the remote desktop box.
maybe this can help u

Answer 6

definitly it is not using remote desktop software installed in the PC by default.

Check is ur daughter using MSN chat..at that time? Here there is option you can allow other party to control your pc to do/check something.

or u daughter has installed some software something like her fren have to connect inter PC with some ID/IP address.

Answer 7

I'm not sure I can help, but people used to do it where I worked...like the IT&S people. Her friend must be really, really knowledgable about computers.

Answer 8

it's a program. I forgot what it is called, but the idea is that you can use your own computer from another computer with the help of this program.