Think I've being hacked

[Dottie]

So what do I do now?

[Bigmallly]

I think you need to state the signs & symptoms so that the tech gurus can help you.

[Snadger]

You been playing football then Dottie?

[lettucegrow!]

Contact your bank to stop the facility to do internet banking. Change all pass words, although this may be too late. Run mega wonderful debug programme.
As Bigmally says, why do you think this?

[Bigmallly]

Hacked has so many meanings. Do you mean your computer has been hacked into or your bank details, your credit card. Your thread is a bit vague Dottie.

[Liza]

Maybe she means a virus as shes not been back ?

[Snadger]

Sorry about the earlier comment...............I've been 'hacked' before and they got money from my bank so I should know better than make fun of it.

As has been said, change all your passwords and run a few anti-virus programs.
Three free ones which I use regularily are Malwarebytes,Superantispyware and Microsoft Security Essentials. All three can be downloaded by doing a search on google.
The trojan I had used Paypal to access my bank account. Luckily all money was returned, but it was frightening at the time!

Good luck Dottie and let us know how you get on.

[Dottie]

Hacked - It's my computer and files (at least that what McAfee tells me every now and again).

Have to turn on and off again several times to start up, it lets me put my password in but then just gets stuck. I've got windows vista, so once I've put my password in I just see the word welcome and a blue circle which I assume is trying to connect. Today I was able to turn it on after a 3rd attempt.

I have run a full scan via Microsoft Security Essentials anti-virus program, but nothing showed up. Also when I scan via McAfee it states I'm protected once I click on fix for computer and files, but the same problem everytime/day I turn it on.

I had previously received an email from a contact where I thought she had being hacked, but when I received another email from a contact on facebook, I realised it was actually me who had been hacked.

As I'm sure you can tell from the above, I have no idea about hacking or even know how to spot it. I just know that my laptop is having problems starting up, connecting and can be slow. Plus I keep getting logged out of yahoo, which I only find out when I try to send a message.

My body has also being hacked these last few years, so somedays I'm too exhausted or confused to get into any kind of discussion. So sorry for the late reply, although I did do the anti-virus check due to the suggestion on here.

However even worse is I have no veg seedlings ready to plant or anything this year. I did managed to finally direct sow some parsnips and leeks the other week, but they have had no attention since. Also some hollyhocks seeds have come up in my new feng shui garden, so direct sowing is the only way for me this year and then they just have to fend for themselves. Mind you having quickly looked at the forum today and reading the problem many are having with frost, sowing late and direct may still get some results.

I do enjoy reading the growing related posts even though I don't get involved, it's like gardening by proxy until I'm able to get out and do stuff myself.

Also a special mention for Bigmally, who sent me a PM as I hadn't replied to the posts, asking if I'd sorted out the problem.

[Buleste]

It might just be a problem with Vista.
Have you tried booting in safe mode? To do this press and hold the F8 key when you first switch on. After about 30 seconds there should be a list of options come up. Use the arrow keys to move up to "Boot In Safe Mode - No Networking" and press enter. You should then log in as normal. A few warning pop ups should come up but they're nothing to worry about. Hopefully you should now be in windows albeit at a lower resolution screen. Now don't worry about any information on your computer being stolen because you are not connected to the net also some programmes like McAfee will not work.

Let the hard drive finish making it's noise and then go to the start menu and try restart. That may sort out your problem.

If it doesn't then you may need to do a system restore. To do this you will need to try to start windows normally. When you do eventually get into windows you need to type "restore" in the search box on the start menu, Double click on "System Restore" and follow the instructions. Hopefully this will put your computers system files back to a point where they worked properly.

Hope this helps.

[Dottie]

Yep tried safe mode when switching off and on, as it gives that as an option. But as it didn't seem to make any difference, I have then just gone back to normal mode. However I've not done it exactly as you have stated.

Interestingly I was logged out of yahoo as soon as I sent my message on here, and up came a screen from McAfee, clicked onto fix and it just came up with trying to sell me an updated package. McAfee runs out on my laptop in July, so for a good few months it's like I've had problems since they keep trying to get me to buy.

[Buleste]

Go to this page and download the free AVG anti virus. Uninstall McAfee and install AVG. You then have a free anti virus programme. The problem shouldn't be due to McAfee needing renewal but might be because either you installed something recently that doesn't agree with Vista or one of the system files has a problem.

If the computer is still crashing in safe mode then you definitely have a problem with Vista and not hacking. You may need to reinstall Vista. But before you do you need to backup your files.

[Bigmallly]

I had a similar problem with an anti-virus program a few months back. It took over everything on my computer trying to sell me a program saying that all my files were infected. As Buleste has suggested, I booted up in safe mode & restored back to a date before this programme took over. That solved my problem........Good luck.

[Dottie]

Buleste I'm going to switch off now and do your exact instructions in safe mode. Hopefully this will sort things out and as my mind is clearer today, it's a good time to go for it. Thanks

[nilling]

Try this...

Installation Guide of Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool 2010

It will install, scan and remove viruses and then uninstall. It's a silver bullet

[Dottie]

I went into safe mode again, but not sure if anything has changed.

Restored system, but to be honest I don't know how long I've had a problem, so don't think that's done anything either.

I have McAfee but the what is popping up after any changes is McAfee Security Scan Plus, and this is where they are trying to sell the next package and making out there are lots of problems.

So clicked onto McAfee package I already have, and have just completed a QuickClean.

I'm presently running Microsoft Disk Defragmenter, which is the next option after QuickClean.

No idea if any of these will help, but I feel I should try the stuff already installed before installing more packages?

Or is it just easier to install vista?