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)

Reading this thread at the beginning was initially like a horror story. However, as the story is unfolding there are certain aspects that, as reported, just don't ring true.

I agree with both of you. I would not have gone into so much detail, except to convince the skeptics that this person and her computer were, indeed, not running (knowingly, at least) any form of file sharing software. I was, and am still, looking for an explanation other than the used computer scenario. As to snooping, it could be argued (if not convincingly) that the files are meant to be open to the world, if they are accessible to Browse Host. If my intent were simply to snoop, I would have been doing that, rather than trying to convince all and sundry to be more careful with which files you are sharing. Do I ring more true, now?

Im calling you on this. Computers ARE NOT wide open to the world, unless, said computer is run by an idiot that doesnt know any better. If using a P2P app such as Limewire, Bearshare and or others, YOU have to select a 'shared' folder and or folders. An entire hard drive IS NOT open to the world. So, like I said, I suggest you limit your snooping as if you go snoop where your nose doesnt belong, you could be brought up on charges by that person. When you browse a host, you are only browsing their shared folder, not the entire hard drive. I have mine set in Limewire to browse only the 'shared' folder and nothing else.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sphinx
[B]Im calling you on this. Computers ARE NOT wide open to the world, unless, said computer is run by an idiot that doesnt know any better. "

Sphinx, I agree with everything you said. I have no right to snoop. If I really feel that the files are accessible by mistake, I should stay out of them; and indeed, that is what I am doing. That is why I am here, trying to reach people who can help get the word out.

I hope you are right. But this is fact: I clicked Browse Host. It yielded all of the files on the Host computer. The owner of the Host computer was unaware of the presense of a file sharing program.
If Browse Host yields results, based on what you said, the files were deliberately offered to all comers to read or use as the reader sees fit. But based on what I have observed and reported here, the files are not supposed to be open and neither I nor anyone else, no matter how well-intentioned, should open any of them even in an attempt to contact and warn the owner. So again: That is why I am here, trying to reach people who can help get the word out.

I just talked, again, with the owner of the machine in question. She said that it is a new computer. That kills the idea of its having file sharing software left over from a previous owner.
So back to my first question: How can this happen, and how can it be prevented?
Argument, in the sense of debating the issues, is welcome. Asking why I am involved in this is reasonable, as none of you have ever heard of me. Expressing doubts as to my credibility or honesty or intentions is fair. Once. One shot each but, once answered, aspersions will not be responded to.
I am running LW 4.9.33 Pro, having just upgraded. I don't know what the previous version was, but it was 4.x pro.

Please, no more "It can't happen." It did. Now, how??
"Andy"

conspiracy.

hmm, alot of users sharing their journals tonight.

Im not trying to acuse you of anything but, it cant happen unless that person has P2P software on their machine and have shared folders or, you really are a hacker and went too far with it. Even if its a new computer she has someone must have installed the P2P app. A machine, whether its old or new, still has to be setup by a user. Said user installs P2P software on their computers and setsup shared folders. So, she is really clueless or just trying to brush you off. Seriously andy, let it go, the more you press the issue, the more she might not like it, dont keep contacting people ok? really, its a waste of time and an invasion of privacy and, in the long run, you would be the one who'd get in trouble, not them. and, they'll lie to you anyway.

The only way to prevent it is to not install P2P spftware and protect your computer with a firewall & an Anti Virus program.

You are only open to the world on a P2P app if its installed on your system without any protection whatsoever, if ports are left open by mistake the worst thing to happen would be aa dos attack. but, that is all up to the user to take steps to protect themselves from hacks, attacks, viruses etc. P2P apps such as Limewire are not responsible for what you do with it.

Is this thread still going? I'll have a good read of it tonight ..Hobo SF fan

__________________
To get Phex Click on the Fox

lol. I got bored while downloading.

interesting to say the least.