Is it possible to get your friend's emails?

[wendyth]

I have a friend who went to University and got a degree in computers. What exactly I'm not sure. I am taking a course from him because I know very little about computers. Two days ago he Networked my computer with his laptop. He said he needed a disc burned and his burner didn't work very good. He downloaded the files off his laptop on my computer and then burned the disc. Knowing nothing about Networking this was to be a lesson.

This morning before he came over to teach he said to me on the phone "Oh I didn't know you knew so and so that well". We have a mutual friend, more his friend than mine. He's a customer of his and they've become friends. He introduced me to him. The friend is away on holidays with his girlfriend right now. I told him we're not that good of friends why would you say that? What brought him up? He told me the e-mails I sent the friend came to him. We send jokes to each other through e-mail. (the mutual friend and myself) I don't send him any jokes (the teacher friend) because he has a dry sense of humor and would think they're funny.
What are the odds of that? One in a million that they would go to his address instead of the mutual friends? His e-mail address wasn't on the e-mails at all. He even varified it.

My question is:

1) How possible is this? Why would the friend's e-mails go to him (the teacher)? The address on the e-mails were the mutual friends not the teachers.

2) Did he download things off my computer to snoop?
(He found out his roomates password and goes into her mail box to read her mail. She is unaware of this.)

3) He put Ghost Logger on my computer so I could monitor where my kids go. They don't go on the computer alot because they don't know to much about it. They are kept very busy with activities and homework. My kids are 9 and 11. Where they go is boring not worth monitoring. I trust my kids and know they aren't going anywhere they shouldn't. He's the one that thought the program would be a good idea. Did he put the program on so he could find my password out for my mailbox?

4) He tells me he could get into my computer if he wanted to from home. But of course why would he want to he told me. I just laugh when he tells me that and say things aren't to exciting on my computer. Is this the way he got into my mailbox?

There are things on my computer I consider private. Not only him, I wouldn't want anyone on my computer to see what I do and get into my files.

5) How did he get those e-mails sent to him?

I don't think he got the e-mails. I think he got into my mailbox and looked threw it. It drove him crazy to see I've been sending the mutual friend jokes. He saw the people I e-mail and his name was on the list. (mutual friends) He asked me about it because it bothered him. He knew I would ask him how he knew about the e-mails. Knowing very little about the computer he didn't think I would question the answer but I did. I dropped it, but thought about it all day.

Someone please tell me if this is at all possible? What are the odds of it happening? I won't rest until I find out.

I can't help but question it. How convienent for him to receive those e-mails!

Waiting for some answers.

Thanks,

Wendyth

 

[$teve]

wendy....im going to re-post this in the security forum.
there are a lot of questions there,i think your friend is not to be trusted.not only is it coincidence that your emails ended up on his computer,its impossible.

 

[pyritechips]

<img src="http://forums.techguy.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=693084">

Hello Wendy! This does not sound good! I'm not sure what this ghost logger is that he put in your computer but I am highly suspicious! I will request that this be moved to the Security thread where very knowledgable people can help you out.

In the mean time, I would not trust this person. If he can network your computer he can open any file he wants, including your most private files and e-mails! Ghost logger could be like a trojan virus that couls spy on your information and send it to him whenever you were connected to the internet.

Please deny him access to your computer (my suggestion) until you get more help here.

 

[bassetman]

Welcome to TSG!

Well that's alot of questions!

1) How possible is this? Why would the friend's e-mails go to him (the teacher)? The address on the e-mails were the mutual friends not the teachers

They could be using a packet sniffer!

2) Did he download things off my computer to snoop?

Maybe, maybe not.

3. ...Did he put the program on so he could find my password out for my mailbox?

Maybe, do you trust him?

4) He tells me he could get into my computer if he wanted to from home. But of course why would he want to he told me. I just laugh when he tells me that and say things aren't to exciting on my computer. Is this the way he got into my mailbox?

Possibly, they are starting to sound creapy!

5) How did he get those e-mails sent to him?

See packet snifffer!

Odds? That I don't know, but seeing he had access to your PC I'd say very possible.


Do a search for startup cop and run it and post results here and someone should be able to tell you whether there is a prob or not.


Good Luck
John

 

[angelize56]

Wendy: Sounds like he installed a key logger similiar to this one <a href="http://www.keyghost.com/"> here</a>. I think he has more in mind than helping you see where your children go on the net! Sounds very suspicious and certainly he doesn't sound like a friend I'd want. Hopefully TSG can help you find out exactly what he installed and how to remove it. I wouldn't stay networked with him either if I were you. Sounds like the beginning of a bad tv drama. Be careful Wendy! Take care. angel

Post your start up log as others have suggested ASAP so they can help you.

 

[Davey7549]

Wendy
Will move this to the Security forum for you. Also if a Keylogger is being used on your computer it is entirely possible He is having all your key activity, not to mention what sites you are visiting sent to Him via E-mail. Several major logger programs have this ability. Some will use screen captures not key logging and others will use both options. If a key logger or screen capture device is on your system it will be hard to detect it without aid of another program designed for identification. To my knowledge all these programs all cost money to purchase but maybe someone knows of a free one. Once found you will also have the task of uninstalling it without the aid of an uninstaller unless you can identify the program and contact the manufacturer with your situation.
Another idea you could try to help identify the source is to download a free firewall, set it up and have it monitor all activity going out and coming in. Go to http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/zonealarm/znalm_details.jsp for a free personal copy.
Note: If you had a firewall installed prior to the possible intrusion then it was reconfigured to allow for the free access.

Good luck in identification and if found I hope you take some sort of legal action against this type of Cyber Stalking.

Oh and by the way if a logger is being used in any form the individual probably already knows you are posting here and are suspicious.

Dave

 

[angelize56]

Dave: <a href="http://www.blazingtools.com/bpk.html"> Here</a> is an example of a key logger. If you read down it states: "<b>Our keylogger has unique remote installation feature. You can attach keylogger to any other program and send it by e-mail to install on the remote PC in the stealth mode. Attach keylogger to the beautiful screensaver and send it to your friend!"</b> Isn't that illegal? Take care. angel

 

[Davey7549]

Marlene

Attach keylogger to the beautiful screensaver and send it to your friend!" Isn't that illegal?

Such friends we really need!

I am not an Attorney and do not know all laws governing this activity but this type of activity does not pass the smell test!!

What you are describing is a form of Spyware with Trojan traits and yes it sould be illegal but it may be hard to prove and less likely to be pursued by authorities unless it was used in Identity Theft or some similiar greater crime. Merely peering into ones private matters is tacky and underhanded but not necessary illegal to my knowledge.
In Wendys case She said this individual is a teacher if I read correctly and there She may have recourse with the administration.
Consider this.... If you were at work and someone was peering over your shoulder to watch what you were doing, you would be extremely uncomfortable but that individual would not be in any violation of law. Now if the same individual stole your password and used it to access sensitive info from your computer and then sold that info the a violation would occur.

In any event this is a terrible violation of ones privacy and should not be tolerated. If it was your work machine with the keylogger then that is a different story because of the right of Employer property usage and liability!

Dave

 

[angelize56]

Dave: I was wondering if the site I posted itself could get in trouble were it forwarded to whoever investigates such matters? Invasion of privacy is rotten! Thanks for your reply and I hope you guys and gals with the smarts can help Wendy. Take care and have a nice day! Marlene

 

[Monstrous Mi]

Just my two cents on legalities.

I am sure all of this is legal if you agree to it. For example, lots of spyware is downloaded and installed on people's computers quite legally. When install a freeware or shareware program, or any program for that matter, you always see a "License Agreement" which you should read and then you agree to it to install the program. If you don't read that agreement, you could be unknowingly agreeing to something you never would otherwise.

I believe other methods of installing spying programs on your computer, like e-mail attachments that you open, are not legal. In these cases, you have not given consent to have personal information transmitted over the Internet.

Another interesting issue is with cookies. When you use your web browser to visit websites, you have settings for the use of cookies. If you allow all cookies, you explicitly agree to allow websites to collect information about. This is not the same sort of malicious activity that a key logger could carry out, but it is a level of personal information nontheless. I personally only accept cookies from the originating server (first party cookies).

 

[wendyth]

Thank you for the welcome.

Some of the replies I don't understand. Thank you all for replying.
Key Logger, (Ghost Logger) are the same. It knows everything you've done and everywhere you've been on the computer. It shows all the passwords you enter too.

It's not a matter of legalities, it's a matter of TRUST. I'm upset because he (the teacher) knows way to much about me.
I've noticed his attitude towards me has changed. He's very aloof now. He said some of my e-mails were awful...how could I send them. In my eyes, and most people's, there's nothing wrong with them.
Yesterday when he came for the lesson I told him I didn't believe his story. I asked if he would tell me the truth, how he got them.
Of course he lied and said he didn't know how they got to him they just showed up by mistake. At one time he commented it must be because of ??????? that he put on Rob's computer.(mutual friend that I sent the e-mails to) I didn't understand what he was talking about. He said forget it, it's to complicated to explain. Another thing he said more than once is "I'd have to prove it, to do anything". E-mails I've sent before, have never gone to him.

Before he started teaching me he assumed there was more than a friendship between us. He would phone 20 times a day, ask me out constantly, and offer to do things for me. I have never gone out with him and declined any help he has offered us. I let him know all I want is a friendship and nothing more.

I've tried to get packet sniffer but couldn't find any free one's. Startup cop and advanced startup the same thing. I thought I downloaded it but when I click on it the only thing that keeps coming up it a screen to register either online or later.
I'm not very familar (if you can believe it) with downloading things. I don't know how to unzip a file either. Sorry guys I'm just a beginner.

Is it or is it not possible for him to have received those e-mails? He keeps telling me that it is and that's how it happened.

Wendyth

 

[suzi]

Wendy,

This person sounds really creepy.

Aside from that - you might be able to get rid of the keylogger with Spybot Search & Destroy. Go to this site and download it:

http://security.kolla.de/

To download it, click on one of the download links and let it install to your desktop. After that, click on the icon and it will run the setup program and install it.

After you install it, click the "online" button and click where it says search for updates. Then download all the updates. Then close Spybot and open it again. Then run it. It will show a list of problems - you should let it delete all the items listed in red.

That might remove the keylogger. If you are still suspicious, go to this site:

http://www.spywareinfo.com/downloads.php

and download the program called "HijackThis". Run it and them post the log it creates here - you can copy paste it here. Someone will check the log and tell you if there are other problems in your computer which need to be fixed.

You will need to have WinZip to unzip the HijackThis program. You can download WinZip free here: http://www.winzip.com/

It says evaluation program, but you can continue to use it forever. Just follow the instructions carefully and post back here if you need more help.

Good luck.

 

[frenat]

Definitely do what you can to get rid of that key logger and be suspicious of anything this person sends to you or wants to do on your computer in the future. Then and this is very important, once you are sure the keylogger is gone, change your password for your email . You may have to call your ISP for this. Change all passwords you have for anything online, email, this site, all other sites, online banking, etc. If he got your email through use of a keylogger then he almost certainly has your password and can continue to get your email until and unless you change your password. You may never be able to do anything to prosecute him legally as it is very hard to prove but you can at least stop what he is doing now. You may want to warn any mutual acquaintances as well.

 

[$teve]

Is it or is it not possible for him to have received those e-mails? He keeps telling me that it is and that's how it happened.

just to clear things up on this question,which hasnt really been answered directly.

ABSOLUTELY NOT

this is tantamount to stalking.

keep posting back here wendy... and ask if you dont understand anything,we are all glad to help

 

[bassetman]

Interesting that Wendy is the only one who has not posted back here!

I hope she is ok!