Can my Pc be used as server by some one else for eligal internet activities?

Question

As I'm worried that my security has been breached on my Pc. Is it posssible for an individual to hack into another persons computer over the internet and use it as a server for malicious means and leaving that person open to prosecution and how can I detect it?

Answer 1

You don't say what security software you're using, or what makes you think you have a problem. I recommend Avast! anti virus as it scans all web traffic. Also you need a firewall, Ewido anti spyware and Ad-Aware SE Personal.
If you physically disconnect the pc from the line when you are not on the internet it discourages hackers, they love always on internet connections!

Before attempting to remove malware you must switch off System Restore as back up files will be hiding in there, and it will just restore itself. Go to Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.
Run Avast and Ewido in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode repeatedly press the F8 key after the bios screen loads but before Windows loads. You'll know if you made it because the screen will be at 800 x 600 and your pc will be slow.

Then beef up your security. Its easier to prevent malware getting on to your sytem in the first place rather than trying to remove it.

The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out. Either of these firewalls are free for personal use and stop unwanted incoming and outgoing traffic. You choose which programs are allowed to access the internet. They are both fairly easy to use and updated regularly.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.kerio.com Kerio firewall

Shields Up security site, check your firewall works
https://www.grc.com

http://www.mozilla.com/ Firefox web browser
http://www.opera.com/ Opera web browser
Instal both these web browsers, turn off javascript on one and use that browser for vising unknown websites. They don't support Active X so thats one less way for problems to get on your pc.

Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com

Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com

http://www.siteadvisor.com -Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus

http://www.ewido.net - Ewido anti trojan

Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.lavasoft.com

Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org

http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.

http://www.bitdefender.com -BitDefender can be used as a second, on demand anti virus.

http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool

Microsoft have two free online scanners that look for malware.
http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
You can also download Microsofts free Windows Defender from the official Microsoft site, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool.

Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.

Answer 2

Yes it's possible. In fact, that's what many trojan horse infections are for- to use a compromised PC as part of a network to launch denial-of-service attacks, or to allow someone to take control of it later for other purposes.

First off, you should have some virus protection currently running. So run a full scan of your system and hopefully it will detect and remove the bug.

If you don't currently have some for of antivirus on your system, yikes. You can navigate to www.trendmicro.com and try their free house call- it's an online virus scan, but takes awhile.


Next, go to www.download.com and grab the following:

Spybot Search & Destroy

Ad-Aware SE personal edition

They are free utilities. Install and run them both. Unfortunately, lots of spyware/malware doesn't really fall into the category of viruses and so the major virus scanners like Norton/McAfee doesn't clean them- you need spyware/adware cleaners like these as well.

Answer 3

If you are worried about someone else using your computer from the internet you can install either a hardware or software firewall. If you don't want or need a router, such as D-link or linksys which basically has a internall firewall,download a free software firewall from the internet. Zonelab or Panda has a good firewall that will prevent someone from accessing your computer. And even if the do somehow get in,(unlikely though), it will prevent them from using your computer to access the internet. For added security, use a router,(hardware), and the firewall,(software). That will usually do the job nicely.

Answer 4

i might. *lol* in case you have been soliciting for version numbers i may be nervous. yet yeah, this is a sort of bargains: i do unlike disruptions to my widespread each and on a daily basis stuff. And gaining wisdom of an entire new browser and getting THAT maintain on my pc may be a disruption. to not point out, my difficult disk drives (i think of I even have "2" however the different you may desire to nicely be a logical partition, i'm uncertain) are small-ish. i don't likely have room to run 2 browsers at as quickly as, to any extent further than i'm able to run 2 finished anti-virus classes at as quickly as (firewalls, greater crap and all). issues get heavily bloated and then my pc slows to a dying-crawl as my significant difficult disk plenty up. And nicely, i've got heard Chrome gets heavily bloated, even worse than IE does in some tactics.

Answer 5

I wouldn't like to comment on the risk of prosecution, but the events you have described happen every single day to computers that aren't configured properly for internet security.

Answer 6

it may be possiblle to hack any pc. however, unless you have sufficient server capable software, i doubt whether it can serve as a server. it would also require huge amounts of memory, both ram and hard. a good spyware and protection software program is essential for any pc. mccaffee, norton, avg, all are good. some parts are also available as free downloadable from their websites, but are limited as to functionality. they should make you aware of any problems, though you may have to purchase it to solve any problems found. i have one purchased, but two that were free downloads.

Answer 7

dont think NORTONS / MACFEE./AVG
CAN SAVE YOU THEY CANT THERE NOTHING WHEN IT COMES TO SECURITY
zoneAlarm internet security suite
IS NO1

yes it is there is a trojan that can enter your pc and the person who made the trojan can take full control over your pc when your not at it if you go out and your pc is on if that trojan is on your pc and the person who made that trojan is online he/her will know when your not at your pc and can take full controll over it login in to ur yahoo /msn ids reading your email talking to your friends online from your pc they are connceted to your pc by the trojan and they can remove system files even download more trojans and put them in your hard drive and every time your pc is on they can send files with trojans in to all your friends they can hack your friends ids so the best thing to do is make sure your pc does not have any trojans on you need to get the verry best in anti trojans software to make sure your pc is clean of all spyware /virus/ trojan if you want 100% security get the back up to keep your pc clean and safe


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download xoftspy422 and install it then run it stop the scan and click on scan settings tick every box and click on where it says >> click here to select a folder then tick the (c) thats your hard drive if you have 2 hard drives tick the 2 of them then click ok
then click start when the scan is done click on remove tab

http://www.paretologic.com/products.aspx


ewido anti-spyware 4.0
http://www.grisoft.com/doc/10/lng/us/tpl/tpl01?prd=ews

zoneAlarm internet security suite
all in one firewall / anti virus/ anti spyware
no1 auto virus killer that will kill off a virus
as the virus try to download on to your system
when you open your explorer and search on the net
there are virus on websire that will auto download
this all in one firewall/anti virus/anti spyware
will kill the download link fast and auto kill the virus
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jp


ad-aware professional 6.0 /ad-watch 3.0
http://www.lavasoft.de/
ad-watch 3.0 block's all pop ups

spy doctor
http://www.pctools.com

Privacy Guardian also restores valuable hard drive space and speeds up system performance by cleaning out old and unused temporary records. It allows you to simply and securely erase privacy sensitive files from Windows, Microsoft Office, Netscape, Windows Media Player and Internet Explorer.firefox all temporary internet files & Cookies every Privacy Guardian is simple to install and easy to use. It is suitable for Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, Opera and Mozilla Firefox Internet browsers and can be set to automatically protect your privacy at regular intervals. With Privacy Guardian one click of the mouse all clean
Privacy Guardian is at the bottom of the pctools website and you can download it and use it one click of the mouse and all is clean

http://www.pctools.com


use the best to keep your security its up to you

Answer 8

yes, i think it is possible