I'm sorry if this sounds rude but Andy what you are doing is no different than a hacker. Im sorry but I have a hard time believing this story. You have no right browsing personal computer data, study or not, yeah right. sorry but you are not FBI. You are snooping in others people's computers. I suggest you be careful with what you're doing or someone might file charges against you for privacy invasion, strange as it may sound.
Right now, you could be considered a wannabe hacker. Yeah, you can browse hosts, thats no secret but to open personal doc files or go snooping in other folders is another matter. and, get your story straight on how you managed to contact this person or people. Because, Im really having a hard time swallowing any of it.
(sorry felt it needed to be said)