Hackers

[William Shawn Thompson]

Hi, I am have some trouble here online. I think I have a
hacker useing my access online and useing remote
accessing to get into my computer and makeing different
changes to all kinds of things on my setting and other
thing's i have noticed. I have tried to find the person
and even trouble shoot different setting to see if I
could boot him out. Also he has caused pop up's to come
on alot and I can't even get ride of them as well. I was
wondering If you can help me out. It has got so bad that
I have started takeing computer programming classes to
help me. I am in the USCG and have some knowledge on
computers. I havew also bought a book on linux to futher
my knowlege to try and get him out of my computer. So if
you could help me, let me know what I can do and how to
boot him out of my computer for good and change all my
settings back to were they were. My computer has really
slowed down alot. So I know he is useing alot of my user
space. I have not tried to look at my Kernel Space yet. i
think he is also remotely useing up my winmodes on my
computer. Please let me know what I can do to stop him.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

William;
Is it possible it is only spyware and not a hacker?
Try these:
Run an updated virus scan.
Or Scan for Viruses online:
http://security.symantec.com/ssc/home.asp?j=1&langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=IRLFIZTYMWPAZTJWUFJ
Run Disk Cleanup checking all boxes except "Compress old files"
Run Defrag.
If you have file sharing software such as Kazaa, disable it.
Check this link:
http://www.aumha.org/a/noads.php
Run Ad-Aware (free version) or Spybot to check for spyware:
http://www.lavasoft.de/ (Update if you already have it)
Or
http://spybot.eon.net.au/ (Update if you already have it)
This may apply if you recently installed Windows XP Service Pack 1:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q815411
Enable or install the firewall.

If you still believe you have a hacker, you only have one reasonable
option.
Back-up all important data and perform a Clean Installation.
If you have a hacker, it is unknown to what extent he has corrupted
your computer.
You can never be sure you have plugged all the holes he has created or
your computer is truly yours.

Clean Installation:
Disconnect all peripherals (camera, printer, scanner, etc)
Go to BIOS and set CDROM as boot device before hard drive.
Insert Windows XP CD and reboot.
At "Press any key to boot to CDROM" quickly press a key and follow the
prompts for a Clean installation:
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
Delete all partitions in step 5 if you desire to erase all data on the
hard drive.
Partitioning and formatting will be done automatically.
All data will be destroyed, back-up important data first.

After you are finished, you will need to load the appropriate drivers.

If your computer was shipped with Windows XP, these procedures may or
may not apply.
Check your manual or contact the computer manufacturer for more
details.