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Author Topic: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?  (Read 16265 times)

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thenewsusieq

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    Please help. I am non-technical & I am scared. My PC is on a Home/Office Network of 2 computers. The PC sits on my desk and then there is wireless LAN. The system is XP Professional. I don't know much more.

    My estranged husband is the System Administrator. He is an IT professional. He still has access to the system because it is his office too.

    I have password protected my computer, and disabled remote viewing (which he hadn't even told me was activated) and checked to see if specific "folders" have the little hand under them (they don't any more) but I don't know how much, as System Administrator, when he is in the office and his computer is on, he can "see" mine.

    I hope non-tech people will understand how frightening this is.

    Can someone walk me through how I check to find out? And what I can do about it? I don't have any techie friends to turn to - are there companies who could help? How do i find one? and could they bypass the System Administrator anyway?

    btw my computer runs incredibly slowly - i noted in an earlier post something about this being because other computers are "looking" at each action. Also, every time I log on i get an "error in registry" message 4 times, each of which I have to close down. That's probably by the by.

    Please help.

    Many thanks

    S



     


    rej38675



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      Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
      « Reply #1 on: April 07, 2008, 09:08:16 AM »
      It doesn't matter if it's on a domain or weather it's local... If he has admin privileges, he can do and see anything on the PC.

      thenewsusieq

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        Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
        « Reply #2 on: April 07, 2008, 09:32:48 AM »
        If that's true what do I have to do to regain my privacy? Rgds Sue

        Spoiler



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        Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
        « Reply #3 on: April 07, 2008, 01:39:08 PM »
        You can start by changing the admin password on the machine as well as your password.

        Than I would run a virus scan and a malware scan. It sounds like your machine is infected. Most likely not from your ex.

        Also, every time I log on i get an "error in registry" message 4 times, each of which I have to close down. That's probably by the by.

        Whenever I watch TV and I see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I would love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." - Mariah Carey, Pop Singer

        thenewsusieq

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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #4 on: April 07, 2008, 02:30:07 PM »
          I run full Kaspersky suite , really don't think my computer is infected.

          It's an interesting idea to change the admin password, but how do you do that if you don't know it in the first place?

          Broni


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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #5 on: April 07, 2008, 03:44:50 PM »
          I just checked your HJT log, and it's clean - no tracking software installed.
          I think, your best bet would be to contact your ISP, obtain separate IP address, ans separate your computer from the network.

          Aegis



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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #6 on: April 07, 2008, 05:07:42 PM »
          Will the ISP then require her to have her own physical modem? 


          "For you, a thousand times over." - "The Kite Runner"

          Broni


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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #7 on: April 07, 2008, 05:12:58 PM »
          I believe so. She wants to separate from her ex network.

          Aegis



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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #8 on: April 07, 2008, 05:21:17 PM »
          Right -- not disagreeing at all...just checking...I expect that to be part of the solution.

          Edit:
          Thanks,
          Brian

          « Last Edit: April 07, 2008, 06:39:50 PM by Aegis »


          "For you, a thousand times over." - "The Kite Runner"

          Broni


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          Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
          « Reply #9 on: April 07, 2008, 05:40:09 PM »
          Brian??

          thenewsusieq

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            Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
            « Reply #10 on: April 08, 2008, 02:55:06 AM »
            It's becoming increasingly clear that I need to get my computer off the network.

            A while back rej 38675 said confidently that the Network administrator would be able to see all but gave no further help or advice & hasn't cropped up since. There MUST be someone else out there who knows about this stuff & is prepared to help a damsel in distress!

            To help me understand what to do next I would like if possible to know:

            1) HOW does the NA "see" what's on my computer? And WHAT degree of detail can he see? Will he for instance know only that I've paid many visits to Computer Hope these last few days - or will he be able to read each & every e-mail???

            2) In the context of a query about Event Viewer/how slowly my computer runs/ the fact that every event/action I cause or take is mirrored by one with user  name "N/A"  Dusty said the User N/A was a global thing. Not Network Administrator??? Spooky that the initials are this isn't it?

            3) What steps would be required to get my PC off the network? There is no way I could do it myself BTW! So what sort of firm would I be looking for to come in, take it apart & set it up again? I assume this isn't a job for PC world?!

            4) If the NA refuses to supply his Password, where does that leave me? i.e. is the Password required to even get me off the Network?

            On the other hand, if when confronted he is ashamed enough to tell me the Password, can it then be used to isolate my computer without having to leave the network/change IP address etc??

            5) F.I. my set-up is a PC with a docking station on my desk and separate keyboard/screen (which is a wired connection), and then there is wireless LAN with I think a repeater to get the signal to the rest of the building.

            6)To complicate things my Blackberry is also linked into the system. It forwards my mail from my Inbox and saves a copy of mail sent from my BlackBerry to my outbox....but mail I send from my PC doesn't show up on my BB.

            7) And, my e-mail addresses are (?) domain names eg [email protected] which sit on top of the IP address or something? Maybe this is good, as it would mean I can keep my e-mail addresses at least?

            Anyway, it's complicated.

            I would be so so grateful for a rundown in simple terms of the steps which need to be taken, so at least I know what to ask for when I find someone to do it.

            I know I'm asking a lot of you guys but please believe me, your help is so much appreciated.

            S


            Spoiler



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            Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
            « Reply #11 on: April 08, 2008, 01:26:23 PM »
            With the right tools loaded on your machine a NA could be just like he was sitting at your keyboard watching everything you do. This does not sound like what is happening because your Highjack log was clean so you don't have the tools loaded onto your machine.

            The worst he could do is to open files you saved on your machine....IE MS word docs and Excel sheets.

            If you are interested in a complete disconnect from him I would suggest you take a look around for a repair shop in your area and ask them to help you.

            The amount of work to make your machine totally protected isn't something you would do with a help forum.

            Good luck

            Whenever I watch TV and I see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I would love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff." - Mariah Carey, Pop Singer

            thenewsusieq

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              Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
              « Reply #12 on: April 08, 2008, 03:32:55 PM »
              Hi Spoiler,

              Thanks for that. Your ref to Word docs etc; would that even apply to Password protected individual docs?

              And what about the content of e-mails/

              Help much appreciated. Thanks S

              Broni


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              Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
              « Reply #13 on: April 08, 2008, 04:15:51 PM »
              thenewsusieq
              I don't know much about networking details, but I know enough to tell you this: get your computer off of your ex network.
              This should be pretty easy.
              You call your ISP, and just tell them, you need separate Internet connection. It's like new installation, and in case of many ISPs, it mat be free.
              They'll come to your place, provide you with a new modem, new IP address, and you're gone from network.

              viking



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                Re: How do i know what network administrator can see on my computer?
                « Reply #14 on: April 11, 2008, 03:50:24 AM »
                I agree with Spoiler.

                I will answer a few questions, though, Sue.

                If he has administrator password on your computer, he can read any file on your computer (with some exceptions).
                So, after your notation:

                1) Your example with which sites do you visit: he has read access to log files. Yes, he can check where have you been on the net, when. If the e-mail is not downloaded on your computer he needs the account name and password of your e-mail account, he has to log on on "your" mail server and read the e-mails. If you download e-mails to your computer he is not stopped from having a good lecture time (he has read rights, remember).
                He can read ANY file on your computer (with a few exceptions that I'll note later).

                2) N/A is not "network administrator". When the administrator is noted in your event viewer, he is noted as a casual user - he can be an administrator and not having to be named in the event viewer as administrator. His user account might be "Boo", member of Administrators group on that computer. When you will read the events, you will see Boo and not administrator, though Boo has administrator rights (I hope I don't confuse you).
                N/A - means "no user" in your particular case. For example, on my computer, I have log messages from Avast!, where the source is Avast and the user is N/A. No user this means.

                3) Talk with an ISP and require a new connection. Or as other forum colleagues said, talk with the same ISP and require a new connection. Connect your computer directly to their equipment.
                Another way: buy a router. Connect your computer to that router, pay attention - set it up properly, pay attention at the administrator password, disable the "remote administration" for that router. Your ex should not have physical access to that router or he will be able to "reset" the router and change administrator password, change the settings.
                It is not complicated to set up the router, but on a forum... You already owe me a big icecream :) In fact it is very easy, but it would take at least half of hour to teach you how to do it (even if you read the user manual).
                The last way: take a free firewall or buy a firewall (computer program) and set it up properly. You don't need much to know about how to set it up, the discussion is almost as the one regarding configuring routers (home routers, not routers in general). The degree of security is dictated by the degree of security of your computer. If he has administrator access to your computer he can do anything he likes on your computer.
                4) N/A is not an user.
                You can isolate your computer from the others by using a firewall or a home router (connect only your computer to the router, and your router connect to the "big" network).
                5,6,7: you read the e-mail only on blackberry? On which server is located thepharmacy e-mail server? Your ex has administrative rights on this server? Here you have to give me a little more details.

                Exceptions of files: files he can't read even if he has administrator password.
                They are "passworded" files - doc files, excel files, archived files with password. There are others, but you don't use them (encrypted files). Though there are programs that can crack those passwords and he will be able to read the content. If you have pdf files with password: they are not protected, it is extremely easy to bypass the pdf file password.

                Sue, please don't step into paranoia. Breath deep and either speak with an ISP for a new contract, or connect through router or with a firewall. Note: the internet transmissions are not encrypted in general. If you connect to his network he could watch your every move on the internet: what you send, what you talk, what you visit, when, EVERYTHING. But... Are you sure he has the means for this? (the time being the most important)

                So, my recommendation: see who is member of administrator group on your computer. See if your computer is member of a domain (in this case the domain administrator can do many on your computer - I mean everything). Try to obtain a new internet connection from an ISP (internet service provider).