Someone is logging into my aol account. I have changed my password so many times and it's still happening. What can I do to stop this. It is very concerning. I have Norton. What else can I do? :confused:
Printable View
Someone is logging into my aol account. I have changed my password so many times and it's still happening. What can I do to stop this. It is very concerning. I have Norton. What else can I do? :confused:
Call AOL support: 1-800-827-6364
Also, read this from their support online documentation: http://www.aol.com/support/index.adp...ssword&page=03
And then think of a damned good password to change it too. Since I take it you are not a tech person, I won't go into detail on hardcore passwords. But, follow these three rules when making a new password:
1. Include numbers
2. Unclude lowercase and uppercase letters
3. make it easy to remember, but following the two above rules. Example (don't use this) 1l0veY0U
Hi, welcome to AO
You'll more than likley find its someone who knows you and maybe even has access to your computer. Family member G/f , B/f, friend, etc etc, as the isn't much use in hijacking an AOL account, other isp acount maybe but not an AOL one.
Do you write your password down anywhere or use obvious ones that people who know you can guess?
Out of intrest how do you know someone else is using it?
Thank you for your posts. I know someone else from another site is getting on my computer because I am consistanlty leaving my aol account on (in my home) and coming back to a box that says my "account has been logged off because someone else has logged on in another location". I have no one who knows my passwords. I do not write them down and I share my home only with my husband and I know it's not him. We are both upset about this. I don't think the person doing this is soley interested in my aol. I believe that they are interested in every thing on my computer. I am not a tech person but love the computer and what it can do. I just wish it could be used for knowledge and not abuse. This site to me is fantastic. I am so happy I found it.
Have you scanned your computer for trojan horses, viruses etc
If you keep changing your password but still someone is logging on as you the only possibilities is that someone is either guessing your password (unlikley unless you use words that mean something to you) or you have something like a trojan horse, key logger installed which is sending info about you to someone else!
I would follow Pooh's advice and call AOL support on the number he gave as they will be able to tell who logged on to your account by the IP address recorded by them. They will take the necessary action from there as in reality its is a machine belonging to them which is being fraudulantly used, not your computer!
Hope it helps!
//edit: Why do you think they are interested in everything on your computer?
Nokia has as an excellent idea. Why not scan your computer for viruses and see if they are getting your password that way? There are links littered around the forums, but this should serve your purpose for now.
1. Go here, and allow the software to install on your computer. It's safe, and it's a very reliable virus scanner that only runs via this website. : http://housecall.antivirus.com
2. Go here, and download the Spybot Search and Destroy software. Install and run it, as this program is too, very safe. Search and Destroy (SD) is a program that will detect spyware, adware and various other nasties that may be infecting your computer. Run it, and while in there look for a feature called "immunize", in which it will adjust certain settings within IE (And thus AOL) to help prevent more nasties from infecting you. http://kujoe.com/freeware/spybotsd13.exe
Quote:
Someone is logging into my aol account. I have changed my password so many times and it's still happening. What can I do to stop this. It is very concerning. I have Norton. What else can I do?
Quote:
AOL allows for multiple screen names but a common mistake for the radio person is to create an account with AOL using their own name, or a derivative, as the "Master Screen Name" and further compounding it by using that screen name publicly. Nearly every single radio host will be a target of some form of harassment, often directed against their screen name. Once that particular account is hacked the abuser will likely destroy it. The "Master Screen Name" allows full administration to your AOL account so your best bet is to create an account with AOL using a meaningless handle. THEN, create an account for public use ... limit the "permissions" for THAT new public account. Have a different password for your public screen name. Now if your public screen name is hacked they can't get control of your overall account. If you have already created an account with AOL and are concerned about the above then contact AOL, explain your position and request that they modify your account.
Quote:
You should further protect your AOL account with the following steps ...
Quote:
Set your preferences so attached files do not download automatically. For heaven's sake don't download attachments from people you don't know and even if you do know them confirm it. The top way to get a virus is via an attachment from someone you know and trust. They get it and are unaware of the problem, meanwhile the virus goes to work scarfing up addresses and sending itself out again. See also anti-virus software.
Quote:
If your addicted to your buddy list then take the time to find out how to modify the security features. You can set it to allow only listed people to be able to contact you. In December 2001 it was found that the latest version of AOL had a security hole in its Instant Messenger service big enough to drive a truck through. Even in previous versions of AOL you will be bothered by annoying and anonymous pop up messages that appear to be innocent chat requests. Keeping your Buddy List and Chat unrestricted will compromise your account in other ways that for security reasons I can't go into here.
I have contacted aol when this first began. This is going on a number of weeks, and they told me there is nothing they can do. They said they cannot give me the ip adress of the person logging in because they don't have it. My lawyer said it can subeonaed. I am in a legal battle with the person I am concerned about, and they have an arsinal of computer savy ( among other things) and what's worse they are dishonest and would do anything and everything to prevail. And they have! I have run virus scans not trojan scans. Am I doing all that you have suggested right now. I really appreciate all of your assistance. A non techie is no match for a troll!
If I were you I would follow the advice given about checking out YOUR system. On the surface it appears that someone has installed a trojan horse or a KEYLOGGER and compromised your computer which means that your AOL account isn't the only thing at risk and is probably the least of your worries at this point.
Try pressing ctrl-alt-z (or any other letters for that matter) all at once and see if you get a password login screen....if you do, you've been owned.
Don't forget the physical keylogger. Check the wire going from your keyboard along down towards the computer. There should be no units in between the connection. 1 wire with a single plug into the box with nothing in between. Unless its converting usb or something.
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan/licence.php
http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
Another antivirus software http://www.grisoft.com/
I haven't found a stand-alone trojan cleaner yet that doesn't include free trials and adware yet, but theres gotta be one.
Soda, try Swatit, as it has a pro version (payware) and a free version (freeware). http://swatit.org/
The post by tiDaLfAze23 @No7:
If your AOL account is named as your AO account [annross]
consider opening a NEW AOL account with a 'proper' tag. ie: no gender specific title, pick a favourite cartoon character etc, you are open to abuse now, and you need to cauterize the wound.
For a strong password, one trick is to use a song title, just change some of the characters for No's or symbols, use a MINIMAL length of TEN.........
Add the security software suggested; otherwise known as the AO holy trinity:
AdAware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
SpyBot S+D v1.3 http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
CWShredder http://www.softpedia.com/public/cat/...0-17-150.shtml
Welcome to AO, stick around and read the posts from others in the same boat, and MOST IMPORTANTLY ---------------Learn from this. Don't make the same mistakes again.
Ok i'd personally make CD back up of important software/files and then do a clean re-install of the Operating System..
That way when you perform a system format you are bound to destroy any sort of spyware programs ie:Keylogger, Trojan..
And once you have re-installed your Operating System ie:Win95, Win98/98Se, Win2000, WinME,Win XP
MAKE SURE YOU GET THE LATEST PATCHES FROM THE MICROSOFT WEBSITE!!
I would then invest in a AntiVirus program ie: Nortan Or Mcafee.
And Remember to Update your AntiVirus program once a week, as it's only good if you have the latest Virrii Definitions!!
Then i would get a copy of
Adaware,
http://www.lavasoft.com/software/adaware/
SpyBot search and destroy,
http://www.safer-networking.org
and CWShredder
http://www.softpedia.com
And remember to perform weekly updates of these programs!!!
I would also get a FireWall ie:Zone Alarm..
And i would also take extra care when downloading programs, email attachements, and files sent from people via Yahoo Messenger, MSN, ICQ, Irc, Aim etc etc..
And i'd also suggest that you browse the Tutorials Section as you will certainly learn many helpful techniques to help prevent this from happening in the future..
and last but not least, always try to make sure that you choose a password that is atleast 6 letters/numbers long, and try to make it as complicated as you can. But easy for you to remember..
cheers
.:front2back:.
This may seem like to simple a fix, but is it possible that the attacker switched the recover password e-mail during the initial crack... I would check, just in case.
-Shell_Coder
:) Wouldn't it be more wise to check for and update virus definitions 2/3 times
a week instead of like once a week? With all the vulnerabilities that are dicovered
daily, your computer would be at risk with only weekly updated definitions, and may
be infected before you actually update you definitions. Just a thought.....
Hey guys, yeah, hello? We have no idea what else her situation involves and really need to stop preassuming her situation.
The same links have been posted over and over on this thread, with the exact same advice from different people on both Page one and two. Let's rest on repeating one another until we better understand the rest of her situation.
Too much information (repeated) can confuse people unused to such tools and security methods. Take it easy, and take a break. Let's get more information before posting five more links to adaware. And please, before posting, read the entire thread ;)
note: No, I'm not calling the parent poster stupid because I mentioned the word 'confuse', but those who have ever admined a system can remember how users can become a bit afraid when confronted with too much technical information. It's just human nature.
http://www.moosoft.com/products/cleaner/ excellent for detecting trojans.
Also, AOL has a lot of hacker kiddies, and it is a tragedy the username is the same as your e-mail... well when I used it 6 years ago.
Anyway, this has helped me. Hope it helps you. If it doesn't, then I am sorry :|
There is really no need to explain yourself. If somebody assumes you think the person is "stupid" has too much time on thier hands. Not everybody spends every waking second in front of a box....Quote:
note: No, I'm not calling the parent poster stupid because I mentioned the word 'confuse', but those who have ever admined a system can remember how users can become a bit afraid when confronted with too much technical information. It's just human nature.
...like me :P
I am thinking that i have a solution to your problem, I also use aim right now and once in a while i would just exit AIM, then i would sign on again and then the message window pops up saying that you've been signed onto 2 locations and so on...which basically means that even tho that your off....AIM still thinks your online and once you signed on again it thinks you're in 2 locations, this happens a lot....this also happens with msn messenger, it shows my friends as online while i know their comp is turned off cause its right next to me(lol) same with AIM.
Another reason is that maybe you signed onto your AIM account on a different computer....and it just saved your password and auto signs on on the the comp that you've used, this happened with my account and i used it on my uncles.....
Hope that helps
-S3nate
To All,
I want to thank each any every one of you for all the wonderful advice you have given. I am trying each one as I get them. To answer a few of your questions. My name and user name are not the same. I do use unrelated passwords for my computer. I am now making them even harder. I tried right away the Control/alt and Z as well as other letters and no prompt came up. Although all of these wonderful products your suggesting have really cleaned up my computer, I am hoping since no one has logged on yet the perp was wiped out. They normally only do it 2 0r 3 times a week. So maybe they just haven't tried yet. I know they are surely getting in becuse they are taking the information from my account (e-mails from my lawyer) and using it to mess up our plans. I am afraid to give you all too much info in fear they might know I'm here. They are very into the internent as well as surveillance. Trust me I have other problems besides the computer. The police have been called in for that. They will stop at nothing to win. It's all very unsetteling. Hopefully none of you will ever be in a situation such as this with a vile rodent, but you have all made it a little better. Thank You.
welcome :D,
Well, if the people in your account are really messing with your AIM then...why are you still using your AIM account? ditch it and use another one. And i suggest that you use a different way to contact your lawyer other than email, or just open up another account. And do you have any idea why someone would be doing this to you? cause seems really odd that they just keep wanting entery to your AIM account unless they are looking for some kind of information that you might be storing on your account so yea look in to that...
-S3nate
o yea just to add i see that you are subscribed to this thread meaning that it sends the reply to your email account i think that you should disable that if the people really are in your account cause then they know that you are also asking for help here.
Good Luck and hope everything turns out well
-S3nate
Thank you. I had already done both of those things. Once I figured out what was happening. But, they are still going into the account that I'm not using. I just didn't want they on the rest of my computer.
Hey,
Haha, if you dont want them to start to gain access to your computer than i reccemend that you unplug you intnernet connection. Then scan your computer for viruses/trojans in safe mode...then hook up your connection again and go to http://www.kerio.com/us/kpf_download.html and download their free personal firewall that can keep out any outside intruders and logs their IP.
If you dont have an AV software then search for a freeone at www.download.com
-s3nate