Being tracked?

Hey guys,

My ex-roommate did some crazy things with my pc before he left:fpissed:
(yea we didn't end up on good terms) Anyway, he installed some software that runs in the background and tracks all my AIM, Yahoo and Msn conversations. I am not sure what software it is though, can you guys help me get rid of it? I can post by hijackthis log here if you want it...

And I know this sounds like a dumb problem but I don't want to format my system either; I have a lot of important data saved.
Will appreciate any help..

yep, a HijackThis log would help.
it is most likely a keylogger... usual places to look is the Runkeys and Winlogon keys..

Personally I would run an AV with the most up to date definitions available in safe mode. Hijack this and A squared are great and all as well but run them in safe mode too.

Quote:

---

My ex-roommate did some crazy things with my pc before he left:fpissed:
(yea we didn't end up on good terms) Anyway, he installed some software that runs in the background and tracks all my AIM, Yahoo and Msn conversations. I am not sure what software it is though, can you guys help me get rid of it? I can post by hijackthis log here if you want it...

And I know this sounds like a dumb problem but I don't want to format my system either; I have a lot of important data saved.
Will appreciate any help..

---

Post the output from Hijackthis. As far as your ex-roomate situation, I say beat the living **** out of him/her then go on with your life.

Cheers, CN22

Personally I would backup my stuff and format\reinstall.

You never know what was put on there...could be a custom app...

That would be the surest way af removing evrything.

my .02 cdn

MLF

Hey thanks a lot everyone, I didn't expect replies in such a short time; you guys are like the Justice League... only geekier haha jk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by s0nIc

yep, a HijackThis log would help.
it is most likely a keylogger... usual places to look is the Runkeys and Winlogon keys..

---

Yea I will post the HijackThis log tonight, what are the Run/Winlogon keys? Forgive me if I sound like a dumb ass :p

And yea I would have kicked Jake's butt (ex roomy) but he is just too big :( hehe I think stabbing him with a sharp ice knife would be effective... there will be no fingerprints left either, the ice will melt by the time the police find his body :halo:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by morganlefay

Personally I would backup my stuff and format\reinstall.

You never know what was put on there...could be a custom app...

That would be the surest way af removing evrything.

my .02 cdn

MLF

---

Yea I will use that option if the hijackthis log doesn't help...

Quote:

---

And yea I would have kicked Jake's butt (ex roomy) but he is just too big :( hehe I think stabbing him with a sharp ice knife would be effective

---

When you state whats quoted above it makes you sounds like a pussy! Seriously, maybe you should go take a self defense class or something.

Me personally, I would have beat the living **** out of him but thats just me and the way I am. Of course, I know mixed mma so fighting people not a big deal. ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by S.P.I.

Yea I will post the HijackThis log tonight, what are the Run/Winlogon keys? Forgive me if I sound like a dumb ass :p

---

Refering to keys in the registry that load things on startup.

Code:

---

start -> run -> regedit then find

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Run

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\RunOnce

---

Everything listed there loads at startup.

Also, check the startup folder in start menu, its suprising how much you can find in there if you rarely bother to check it. All kinds of things you don't need :P

And I know that second key (as the name implies) only runs things once, but a sneaky person would make the virus put a key back there every time.

<edit>
Be damn careful what you delete in there, some of it will be vital.

After he pissed me off he'd have better slept with one eye open. I have a shotgun, a shovel and 5 acres of woods. No body, no trial.

Dont let anyone with admin rights on your PC. First rule :D

:o Heh I know it has been like a month since I last gave you an update on my problem. I just forgot about this message board and the forgetting part is directly related to the little story I am about to post.

Well once my "roomie" moved out; I got stuck with the data logging thing and got really pissed. The machine I was using was getting out dated anyway, so I just got an External Western digital drive and moved all the important stuff to it. Then I formatted my drive and managed to sell the system for around 200 bucks. Then... as I was already long overdue on upgrading to a new system, I treated myself to a Intel conroe e6400.... got a new hard drive and all that haha The last one just broke my heart really bad :( I didn't want to see/use it ever again lol

Anyway so yea, sorry for the extremely late reply... and thanks a lot for giving me ideas on how to handle the bastard. Haven't used any of them yet though.... neither do I plan to cuz I am a pussy lol jk

Cheers!

Jake is a noob.