Hi:

I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to have
formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.

He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is exactly
as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of the
state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as the
author of these letters.

So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that it
had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to a
shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was taken
from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.

If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.

I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.

Thanks

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
> in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to
> have
> formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.
>
> He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
> which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is
> exactly
> as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
> sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of
> the
> state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as
> the
> author of these letters.
>
> So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
> apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that
> it
> had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
> computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to
> a
> shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
> state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was
> taken
> from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
> expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.
>
> If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
> all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.
>
> I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.
>
> Thanks

It's hard to say from here how this happened, but there is very likely a
simple way to establish it with certainty.

If these items are wrongfully listed as for sale (i.e. they are stolen
property), legal action will quickly disclose the method.

The friend should contact a lawyer and law enforcement *immediately*.
There are probably both civil and criminal proceedings available. Law
enforcement officials will likely have the power to seize the materials to
immediately prevent any further distribution.

Hope this helps, and best of luck.
-pk

You have cross posted to groups that have no relevence to the subject
therefore its assumed to be spam

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
> in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to
> have
> formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.
>
> He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
> which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is
> exactly
> as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
> sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of
> the
> state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as
> the
> author of these letters.
>
> So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
> apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that
> it
> had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
> computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to
> a
> shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
> state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was
> taken
> from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
> expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.
>
> If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
> all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.
>
> I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>

You should read my last sentence before you fire off such curt remarks such
as this. Go find something constructive to do.


"DL" <address@invalid> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
You have cross posted to groups that have no relevence to the subject
therefore its assumed to be spam

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
> in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to
> have
> formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.
>
> He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
> which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is
> exactly
> as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
> sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of
> the
> state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as
> the
> author of these letters.
>
> So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
> apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that
> it
> had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
> computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to
> a
> shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
> state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was
> taken
> from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
> expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.
>
> If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
> all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.
>
> I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>

On Fri, 1 Feb 2008 23:12:51 -0000, "DL" <address@invalid> wrote:

>You have cross posted to groups that have no relevence to the subject
>therefore its assumed to be spam
>
And you increased the exposure by cross-posting this.
b

ColTom2 wrote:
> You should read my last sentence before you fire off such curt
> remarks such as this. Go find something constructive to do.
>

Apologizing in advance doesn't mitigate the definition of spam.

OK, listen here.

My vote is 99.98% for the repair shop, especially if it is a small one. They
have the time to examine what is on the disk. It is possible to steal
documents via the Internet but in my judgment the person who does such
things and I want to tell you, there are quite a few in this group, and
perhaps that snutty and cruel DL is one of them, by the virtue of the jobs
they do have to deal with a huge amount of material. They are after specific
pieces of information, like passwords to PayPal or credit card numbers. They
have a rough guess where that can be found. I don't think it is a part of
their job description to go after historical documents.

The other person, Patrick, gave you a very good advice. But before you
contacted your lawyer try to make a statement to the Police. It may not be
possible, they may say: it is not in our district, not in our jurisdiction
or whatever but you will make a mark.

Also, keep a diary of every step you (or your friend) do.

This is why people should switch to Vista and never take their computers to
a repair shop. It is much more difficult to poach a Vista machine and on
Business and Ultimate you can completely encode all files you want.

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
> in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to
> have
> formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.
>
> He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
> which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is
> exactly
> as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
> sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of
> the
> state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as
> the
> author of these letters.
>
> So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
> apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that
> it
> had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
> computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to
> a
> shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
> state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was
> taken
> from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
> expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.
>
> If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
> all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.
>
> I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>

I was searching for some good information about a subject which I
admittedly know little about and with the exception of Patrick Keenan's
reply all I have gotten is replies such as yours and DL's.

I can assure you that my posting was NOT spam and was well intended to find
creditable information regardless of the manner of my posting.


"HeyBub" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
ColTom2 wrote:
> You should read my last sentence before you fire off such curt
> remarks such as this. Go find something constructive to do.
>

Apologizing in advance doesn't mitigate the definition of spam.

I appreciate your informative reply and recommendations.

Thanks


"AlexB" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
OK, listen here.

My vote is 99.98% for the repair shop, especially if it is a small one. They
have the time to examine what is on the disk. It is possible to steal
documents via the Internet but in my judgment the person who does such
things and I want to tell you, there are quite a few in this group, and
perhaps that snutty and cruel DL is one of them, by the virtue of the jobs
they do have to deal with a huge amount of material. They are after specific
pieces of information, like passwords to PayPal or credit card numbers. They
have a rough guess where that can be found. I don't think it is a part of
their job description to go after historical documents.

The other person, Patrick, gave you a very good advice. But before you
contacted your lawyer try to make a statement to the Police. It may not be
possible, they may say: it is not in our district, not in our jurisdiction
or whatever but you will make a mark.

Also, keep a diary of every step you (or your friend) do.

This is why people should switch to Vista and never take their computers to
a repair shop. It is much more difficult to poach a Vista machine and on
Business and Ultimate you can completely encode all files you want.

"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi:
>
> I have a friend who had some old letters of one of his kin in a .doc file
> in his My Documents folder in his computer. The letters were enough to
> have
> formed a book about the 1800's written by this kin.
>
> He Googled the letters info and found some data applicable these letters
> which he has never shared with anyone. Also the .doc file string is
> exactly
> as that in his computer. In fact, he has found a copy of these letters for
> sale on the internet and the seller appears to be from the same area of
> the
> state where he lives if not the same city. His name is referenced in as
> the
> author of these letters.
>
> So my question is how did someone acquire this data from his computer, as
> apparently his computer has been compromised. It would appear to me that
> it
> had to happen in one or two scenario's. First someone somehow accessed his
> computer through the internet or second when he had taken his computer to
> a
> shop for repair. Since it appears that the seller is from the same area of
> state as he is, then my first inclination would be that this info was
> taken
> from his computer during a repair. I just really have don't have the
> expertise in this area to try and make a good determination.
>
> If anyone has any comments, suggestions, and/or recommendations as to how
> all this could have happened I would be most appreciative to read them.
>
> I apologize if I have posted this in the wrong newsgroups.
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>

I agree it was not spam.
Although I understand your motivation the only thing you did "wrong" was to
cross-post to so many groups.

P.S. If I was in the same situation I would probably do EXACTLY what you
did.


"ColTom2" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I was searching for some good information about a subject which I
> admittedly know little about and with the exception of Patrick Keenan's
> reply all I have gotten is replies such as yours and DL's.
>
> I can assure you that my posting was NOT spam and was well intended to
> find
> creditable information regardless of the manner of my posting.
>
>
> "HeyBub" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> ColTom2 wrote:
>> You should read my last sentence before you fire off such curt
>> remarks such as this. Go find something constructive to do.
>>
>
> Apologizing in advance doesn't mitigate the definition of spam.
>
>
>