someone is using your computer!

[Kerri1234]

Recently I received a message from a windows xp alert saying that someone
else was using my computer while I was on it. This window appeared on my
desktop. There were no programs running when it appeared. After that the
alert asked me for my password to login my administrator account. Then all
of a sudden my computer locked up. Toady I opened outlook and noticed that
Messages were being sent under my name in the early morning . Messages I did
not send. I shut down the computer and restarted . Now I am not able to
access any of my e-mails through outlook or even send any. Can anyone help
me find a solution to this problem or help with possibilities.

 

[Richard Urban]

Somehow, something has been installed on your computer that generated this
bogus message. You fell for a ***SCAM*** and now you have provided your
login name and password to your computer (administrative account?). Your
security and personal information has been compromised, your other
passwords, account numbers and pin numbers have likely already been
harvested for use by others. It looks like you are in for a heap of trouble.

Though you can spend a lot of time trying to clean up a compromised system,
what happened to you is a lot more severe that just having run of the mill
spyware/adware/virus's on your computer. Your computer can now be used by
others.

I would suggest you blow your hard drive out of the water and do a clean
FORMAT install of the operating system. This is the "only" way to be
absolutely certain that the problem has been alleviated.

Also, keep a close watch on your credit cards, debit cards, bank accounts -
and anything else that you may have stored and used from the computer in
question.

Sorry I can not give you a more positive solution.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Hello Kerri,

There's a very high certainty your pc is infested with malware. Very first thing, disconnect your pc from the internet - to insure no more data goes out, and that this system does not get any more incoming malware.
Disconnect the cable to your modem, if directly connected.
Your next login, when ready, should only be to Safe mode of Windows (tap & repeat tap of F8 function key in order to select Safe mode).

You really need to run antivirus & anti-spyware tools in Safe mode first. And if you need to do any downloads, use another machine that is known to be clean.

Make very sure your system does not have malware.
See <http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware>

Sysclean would be a good first run for virus check. Just be sure sure to also run other spyware / malware checks.

 

[DL]

I would initially suggest an online AV scan via www.symantec.com or
http://www.f-secure.com/
followed by download of SpyBot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
and Adaware http://www.lavasoft.nu/ the free versions
I might also suggest ZoneAlarm Firewall, free version
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
If any virus / trojans found after removal you might want to turn off system
restore, reboot then scan again, and not turn on system restore untill
system is clean.

 

[Hossam]

damn! you should use linux fron now on, way way safer

 

[Touch Base]

| Recently I received a message from a windows xp alert saying that someone
| else was using my computer while I was on it. This window appeared on my
| desktop. There were no programs running when it appeared. After that the
| alert asked me for my password to login my administrator account. Then all
| of a sudden my computer locked up. Toady I opened outlook and noticed that
| Messages were being sent under my name in the early morning . Messages I did not send. I shut down the computer and restarted . Now I am not able to
| access any of my e-mails through outlook or even send any. Can anyone help
| me find a solution to this problem or help with possibilities.
I would also change my admin password while logged in during safe mode and turn off any remote access ability. Chances are the 'warning' was sent through the native Messenger service available on XP which is not inherently safe.

Disabling Messenger Service in Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/stopspam.mspx

Disable Remote Access to your computer
http://www.windows-noob.com/SecureXP/remote.htm