Ok in my shared folder the other day were some of my private pics (just me on holiday with friends and at a ball etc.... however i defo didn't put them there and thought that only files in my shared folder could be uploaded please tell me if i am wrong as i am now worried that people can use all the photos of me they may have for whatever.
Many thanks
Damian

Go to tools, click options, click sharing.

There you see wich folders you have shared.

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c: etc \shared thats the only folder selected.
thats why i wondered if people could get things from other parts of my comp and why my personal pics were in the shared folder.

Damian

Dear DamianUK

For extra security, I purchased an external hard drive and placed my shared folder on there that way my "C" drive will not be compromised.

It is also possible that your PC may have some hidden spyware on it, I found the following on my PC after I let my teenage son loose on it:

ipscan.exe (a port scanner, looks for vulnerable PCs)
KBrowser.exe (browser, not sure if it's for the internet or my PC)
kazupernodes.exe (gives control of your PC to someone else )
http.exe (Internet communication)
eexplorer.exe (establishes regular internet connections)

All spyware/viruses, all designed to take control of your PC and hand it to someone else.

However, as luck would have it, I decided to look at my C:\Windows directory and found these five pieces of crapware and, after verifying that they were rubbish, deleted them.

Anyway, my point is that if someone unknown can access your PC above and beyond the access you have given via LW then there must be something else giving out unrestricted access.

I suggest you start by looking in your windows directory.



UK Bob

PS. Do you have AV and firewall software?

OK DamianUK,
Time for some spyware hunting:

Apart from looking manually for the files Uk bob suggested,

Download and run Adaware:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
And Spybot S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html
Make sure both apps are updated before you scan.
And here you can have your comp scanned for trojans:
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/

Let us know how you did and what was found .

And as Uk bob allso mentioned , It is important to have a good Firewall and Antivirus running.

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personally i like pestpatrol for a spyware,adware scanner it will even find trojans and worm viruses i also use ezTrust antivirus from the same producers these programs are VERY effective and i highly recomend them it might cost some money but it is very well worth it...

found at your local best buy

wIT AD AWARE I FOUND 11 FILES FROM "People on page" not sure what thats about but deleted them all. Some were mentioned as possible browser hijak attempts!

With Spybot S&D i deleted
DOS exploit
iSearch toolbar
Maxspeed
Twaintech
VX2/f
Webrebates
and a few others wow what a lot of crap on my comp...

I am using avast antivirus is that a decent one?

Thanks for the help i hope this stops people trying to look round my comp.

DamianUK

Damian,
Glad to see you got rid of thap crap.
I hope now that the sharing of photo's problem is allso solved.

Avast antivirus is a good app.
But just to make sure your box is clean, do a full scan with Avast with max security settings.

And a firewall is a must have !
A good free firewall is Zonealarm.

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Just one more thing,
As I am no security expert, I think it is wise to go to a specialised forum where you can post a Hijackthis log.
I know a good Dutch one
But just in case you prefer a english one have a look here:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=2852
And here's some more info:
http://pcpitstop.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=61975

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Dear DamianUK

Peerless and RaaF have covered most things you need to protect your PC from being hijacked, someone other than you controlling it.

But I would like to emphasise a point that you should think about, once you have installed your firewall, ZoneAlarm or whatever, you must learn to configure it properly and check that it is working to the best of its ability.

A firewall is the first defense against your PC being attacked and it is extremely important that your PC ports, all 65,535 of them, are properly stealthed, i.e. invisible to the internet and can resist being scanned or directly attacked.

Once you have your firewall installed you should then test it at Shields Up test site:

https://www.grc.com/x/ne.dll?bh0bkyd2

This will tell you whether your firewall is fully protecting your PC.



UK Bob