Fixing a pc used for illegal use?

[Tfunk]

Ok I've been faced with a problem. A friend of mine has been see a guy that is into ....Not nice pictures of young people... He has been useing her computer for this and from what i know, your ip is attached to your location and every computer has a mac address... She wants me to help her out because she knows nothing about computers.

My question is what are the legal things she can do to protect herself?
And what can I do to clean her computer without lossing her stuff?

Sorry if this is the wrong forum for a question like this but i just don't know where to get the info / help i may need...

I'm not experienced enough to handle something like this....
Tfunk  :-/

[Calum]

First off, this shouldn't be in the FAQ section.
Can a mod move this to somewhere more appropriate?
Perhaps the "Other" section?
Anyway, what do you want to do with this computer?
You say you want to clean it without losing her stuff - clean it of what?
Of the pictures?
Of viruses?
You say she needs to protect herself - who and what from?

[Tfunk]

She is worried that by him useing her pc that she is as guilty as he is... Ips and mac are tracked am i right? And sorry for posting incorrectly... I just need some info of anykind before i head over to visit her pc... I want to know what might be best to do?

[Calum]

IP addresses can be tracked.
However, it's not likely that this can be used against her, so I wouldn't worry about it.
If the PC has been used for that sort of thing, it's probably infected with viruses and other malware.
Head over here for some free removal programs.
Although it may be best to reformat and reinstall Windows - make sure you back up files you want to keep first.
More info is required, such as what you actually want to do.

[Tfunk]

ok...thanks... So if i find some messed up stuff and need some kinda help is this a forum that could help me? Except i should be posting in the "Other" forum?

[M1CH431]

Personally I think Format and Clean install might be best in this case. Just get her to save what ever files she wants to a disc and Format the computer and re-install.

[Calum]

Yes, we can help you.
Just keep posting in this thread, hopefully some kind mod will be generous enough to move it into the other section.

[Tfunk]

Thanks for the thread move... i'll try to get it right next time  

[street1 (RIP)]

A guy that is into not nice pictures of young people.

Are you talking about a pervert and young children?

If you are ,your friend should let the authorities have
a look and this pervert should be put out of his misery. :-?

[Dilbert]

By the sound of it, the guy that the OP is talking about is the personification of Mac's fears. Interestingly, Mac was right about this... unfortunately.

I agree, a reformat after backup will solve the problem. However, on the off-chance that she is investigated, keep in mind that if she hasn't done anything wrong herself, she can easily tell this to the investigating authorities.

[Tfunk]

ok i'm back... I've done a look and things aren't as bad as I thought... It's more of a young boy search and well it's kinda minor compaired to what i thought...

Anyways could you help me with printing the Temperare internet files?

[dl65]

Tfunk...... Why on earth would you wish to print out the temporary internet files ? I got the impression that to object of your being called in was to clean up the machine . My best advice would be to suggest to your friend that she not make her machine available to [highlight]"the guy she's been seeing who's into young boys". [/highlight]   ( Thats what I read in your last post )
You have probably heard the saying ....... "Where there's smoke , there's usually fire"
I would suggest that she save any of her important items from the machine and then wipe it clean ...... several times ........ reinstall the o/s and programs and replace her important stuff. Put a password on the system so her friend can't get in .

dl65  

[GX1_Man]

She should

A) Lose this guy without a second thought

B) Format the drive and reinstall WIndows

C) Beef up her security measures for the future.

Perhaps you could help with all 3.

[Fed]

I have a different take on this, to me it looks like Tfunk's friend has had a kid doing some internet searching with her computer. (As kids do).

[Tfunk]

ok the situation is this. my friend has been seeing this guy for almost a year. I got a call this afternoon about some "Kiddie Porn sites" Her words... I kinda flipped because she is a friend and she has a lil boy.... He doesn't live with her which is great and she booted him out the door when she found what she did.... She is 98% computer eliterate.... She only learnt about history tonight... Me...Well i know  how to get around and do a bit...

I wanted to know legalities, because if what she said was true then i would know better what actions to take.... Everything on the net can be traced...Am I right?

When i got to her place i sat down and did my thing... Lone behold, no kiddie pics, but he seems to have a guy on guy/shemale/teen boy kinda fetish.  Nothing ilegal, but instead very disturding.

When confronted he lied and said he went to 1 site and then pop ups went nuts and that's why all the history showed what it did.... I did a look back into the temp file and found stuff from months ago... She dosen't know anything about cleaning....

I wanted to print up the temp file to show the dates and time and the urls of what he had been looking at for her to have proof.... She is scared crazy for her and her son... so now if he trys to come back and if she calls the cops if he does leave she can explain why she wants him gone and then they can make him leave because she has just reason.... The guys in his 30's and the son is 7.... She has know the bf for 10 months...met on the net....

I managed to print the stuff i wanted but it was 109 pages, of just his urls.... The hole thing is F....

I want to say thanks to everyone, and sorry for freaken on my initial post.... I heard Kiddie and kinda snaped  If an adult wants to look at adult nudie stuff then fine.... but other then that.... burn baby burn....