Privacy while using the internet?

Question

I am 21 years old, I pay for the internet access at home, and I paid for the computer, yet recently, my mum spies on me whever I am on the computer, whether it be at 6 in the evening or 11:30 at night. she claims that she isn't spying, but what kind of person wants to get a loaf of bread out the freezer (which is in the same room as the computer) in the middle of the night? She claims that I have something to hide, but I have a sixth sense, and she is (very badly) trying to cover up something that she is hiding. How do I stop her spying on me using the internet? I've got nothing to hide at the end of the day, but it is still irritating. Yesterday, for instance, she walked in while I was checking my emails, and stood there, staring at the screen over my shoulder and said "OOH! What's that!?" When I asked her to stop spying on me and to mind her own business, she got all defensive and refused to leave, claiming that she wasn't even looking at the computer.

Answer 1

is your mom perhaps interested in the computer itself? does she know much about the internet? she might just need to sit down & have you show her what all you do when you are on it.

i do understand your annoyance though. remember, she is comming from a different erra...

or, try just ignoring her being around. let her do her weird things & eventually she will realize you aren't doing anything. whenever you try to push people away (no matter how waranted) they tend to think you are hiding something.

Answer 2

Haha,
I have the same problem with my mom, and I'm 23! In the begining I argued with her how she would feel if I flipped through her private stuff, and she just gave me the " That's a whole different thing" and the "I'm you mom, of course I have the right to see what my child is up to" crap. Then I threatened her I'd pop in while she was in the shower to see "what she was hiding from me". After all, I'm her child, and I have a right to know(according to her "we are a family, and family has no secrets" theory). She stopped lurking me for a while then started again when she thought I was just bluffing. I guess you'll just have to live with it. Stop stopping her and she'll lose interest in time( I had to tolerate my mum for two years). In the mean time, use the net at home for only study use, check your mail and other private things outside(at a friends house, or the library etc.) If she sees your not doing anything in her mind so called "out of the line", she will stop bugging you.

PS It could also be that she is just curious how to use the net whrere in this case all you have to do is teach her. But that wasn't the case with my mom.^^b

Answer 3

Well! it is easy! Do you have any Virus softwares? Those software come with firewall, you can turn your firewall into the highest protection, which can prevent people to access your computer. If you dont have it, come and downlaod from me. Thi software call Anonymizer. It iwll give the vistors a wrong I.P. and it have prevent the people to access your computer. Call me 510-835-4356 if you have more questions. Oh ! there is one thing can help u alot. Set the password in your window. Or unplug the PC power when u are not using it. + trun off the power supply's button at the back of the computer when you are not using it. It will be so tricky.

Lock ur files: http://www.secretfilesoftware.com/lockanexe.zip (freeware)
Lock up whole computer: http://www.rixler.com/download/complock.zip (shareware)

Answer 4

Its quite easy, get a load of gay porn on the screen and when she comes in quickly put your hand down your jeans and run to the toilet she will be so mortified (I'm not saying there’s anything wrong in being gay but no mum would like to think there son isn't going to give them a grand child) she would not bring herself to look again

Or if you think that’s a bit too much you could just turn the desk round so when she comes in the room, you can look up at her and she would have to then make a point of looking

Or just tell her straight "Mum if I can't have some privacy at 21 I'm going to move out and get my own place"

Answer 5

Myabe she wants to learn to use the computer. See I think the problem is that she must have spoken to some of her friends and they must have painted the wrong picture about internet and the computers. Myabe about pornography, hacking and other stuff.

Just teach her how to use the computer like playing movies & songs, E-mailing, chatting etc and don't forget about Solitaire that is every mother's favourite game. Then her sterotype behaviour will change and she'll be more comfortable about you using the machine. The bottom line is that she cares about you and don't want you to get hurt.

P.S. You posted the question in the wrong section. Here only technical questions are posted.

Answer 6

she is just interested in the reason u spend so much time on the pc and why hours pass without u really speaking she is not spying on you she is showing a interest so you can strike up a conversation about it ,she is missing your company thats all ,pcs are time and concentration demanding a lot of the time,without realizing it. involve your mum in some of the more easier things on computers like this site for instance,her age group think computers are for einsteins only and are not aware that pcs are used for leisure as well as more serious uses.

Answer 7

She has heard all the horrible stories of internet preditors and is worried that you are doing something you shouldn't also she may just be curious .. alot of people that don't know how are use the computer thinks its something mysterious..If it bothers you just sit down and say ..Mom..whats up..when im online its just nice to chat with my friends and I look up things I want to know about and are you interested in learning how to use the computer if you want I can show you a few things but if you get caught up in using it.Im warning you we have to have another connection ..lol. More than likely she is just worried about you and wants you to be safe..and heard bad stories...but try both . main thing.. talk to her when you aren't online and say be honest please?

Answer 8

Even though your mother is nosy, you don't have a leg to stand on while you still live at home. She obviously has nothing better to do than make you miserable so you gotta put up with her till you leave. Anyway its a small price to pay for having a live in maid. I bet you don't even pay rent do you?

Answer 9

I completly agree with Christy. I believe it could be that she is interested in learning more about computers, and the internet. Maybe you should offer to help her.

Failing that, can you move the computer to a different location, ie your bedroom?

Answer 10

why not tell her get another pc for herself, seems like u comp just want to use the pc as much as u do. now holiday is aound the corner not a better time to buy pc than now.