Is it possible for another PC to view everything I'm doing on my PC?

Question

I currently share a wireless connection with other computers in my house. Is it possible for someone to view everything I'm doing on my computer by using another computer on my wireless connection? If so, can you tell me exactly how this is possible? Also, how could I know if someone else is watching everything I do via another computer? Finally, how can I stop them!? If you know please help!

I just have a gut feeling about these things and I'd like it to stop. I don't want someone else stealing my info or knowing things about me they shouldn't! Thanks.

Answer 1

Never go to insecure websites or log on to open networks and you will be safe.

Answer 2

As long as your just sharing the wireless connection and nothing else, you should be fine, the only thing they maybe able to see is what web sites you have viewed, but that's about it. We share a wireless connection at my house and we have no problem. I can't see what my dad or sister do on the net.

Answer 3

It is possible, yes. There are remote desktop apps like the numerous VNC variants (RealVNC, TightVNC, UltraVNC) and paranoid employer commercial apps for spying like Scout Spy, QPeek, Public Desktop, and Anyplace Control.

In theory if someone was on the wireless they could use a hacking app like Cain & Abel to sniff your network for passwords and try to penetrate your PC. Once they have an admin logon they can use scripts like FastPush to put VNC servers on your PC, no commercial apps required.

My advice:

1. Assuming you have XP SP2, make sure your firewall is enabled on your wireless network card interface.
2. Get an application like HijackThis! which scans your registry for potential rogue apps that are running on startup and will help you disable them. Check your Startup folder under Start->Programs as well.
3. Secure your wireless network with WPA or WPA2 shared keys. This may already be enabled and/or it sounds like you may be in a shared environment where you can't exclude people from the network, but do the best you can.
4. Turn off the computer novice logon features in XP. The Users control panel allows you to disable the Welcome screen and Fast User Switching. Turn them both off and you will get a logon screen when you turn on your computer.
5. Make sure your screen saver is set to lock your console after 10-15 minutes.
6. Set your local Administrator password to something long, like a passphrase rather than a complex series of numbers. Experts say long passwords (15+ characters) are at least and probably more secure than complex passwords and are far easier to remember. This phrase could be something like, say you're a Lewis Carroll fan, "Twas brillig, and the slithy toves" (spaces are acceptable). It would take password cracker years if not decades to crack a long password. Do likewise with any local admin account, including your own as XP by default usually sets up the first account(s) on the system as users with admin rights.
7. On the subject of admin rights, consider only putting your account in the local "Users" and perhaps "Power Users" groups rather than "Administrators." In addition to making it harder for spyware and other trojan horses to wreak havoc on your system, it would make it harder or impossible for someone spying on you to do significant damage if your own account has no admin privileges. If you really need to install applications, then use the "Run As..." feature in Explorer to run an install as an administrator or log out and log in as an admin.
8. Most wireless routers support MAC address control. If you're in a shared environment get the MAC address from every laptop that has a wireless card ("ipconfig /all" from a command prompt), record the MAC address (MAC addresses are 48-bit hexadecimal addresses that look something like this: 00-12-79-a6-4f-36) and enter only the accepted MAC addresses. If your concern lay with roomies or neighbors close by who you think may be spying you may want to wait to do this until you're sure they might be spying as asking for this kind of info will send up a red flag to them.
9. Get and install a nifty little text mode utility called FERRET (http://www.erratasec.com/ferret.html). When your computer is idle (i.e., you are doing nothing on the Internet--no checking email, no IMing, no web browsing, etc.) let this utility run and see if you see any traffic is going back and forth. NetBIOS traffic is normal but see if there is anything else - any port 80, port 3389 (RDP), port 5900 (VNC) etc traffic.

Answer 4

download VNC Viewer, I hooked up a desktop to my 40" tv and control it using a laptop all the time.
link: http://www.realvnc.com/

if u think someone else is watching ur back, Get anti virus runnign and stop all "file sharings" on internet options, turn on windows firewall. Get "spybot" freeware to scan thru ur system for adwares and trojans, it also blocks hundreds of thousands of adwares from attacking u realtime. DO NOT turn on TeaTimer option if you will get annoyed by constant warning messages and u donno much about registry
link: http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10401314.html?tag=lst-0-1

Both software are freeware and are actively under development to fix bugs. I have personally used them for more than 2 years and they are both currently in commercial use at my company of >200 employees. There aren't any CONS that I can think of especially they are both free. Only thing is that spybot itself might not be enough to against the spammers.

One other thing u might consider doing is to inspect every process or suspicious processes of ur machine, bring up task manager and go to see running processes, google the name of every process (Case sensitive) u will get enough info as to whether the process is a spam and the proper approach to it. DO NOT just download any other anti-spam software until u know enough about them.

Answer 5

yes and no . people can only use a VNC connection if they know your ip and have a password to the viewer , but this would tell you in a flash if anyone was connected to your PC . or your screen background would turn blue

also most home use broadband connections are dhcp , meaning the ip changes on a regular basis , so even if they knew your ip today , they are not going to know it tomorrow

i doubt seriously anyone is in your PC

Answer 6

There are many network sniffing programs available to do as you described.

If you enable WPA encryption on your WiFi network, they won't be able to see you. Read your Router User Manual for more info.

To LET a friend see your computer screen, or fix it even, try CrossLoop (free).

Answer 7

They would need a Trojan like virus installed on your computer.

Netmeeting would also do it.

Idk if that PC Anywhere would do it. It might.

Basically, if someone doesn't know a TON about computers, then they aren't going to be watching you.

Answer 8

Sure, a backdoor trojan can be used to view or control every single aspect of your computer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sub7

Answer 9

Sure they can! Virtual Network Control software!

Answer 10

Yes and I am sure they have a camera on you to so you better not do anything wrong...