I know that there are plenty of "spy" programs on the market that you can download on your own computer to monitor just about every keystroke that is entered into it.<p>But are there actually programs that someone can download on their computer that can remotely do the same to my computer? I watched an episode of "Law and Order" recently that seemed to hint at this.<p>I'm actually a little worried because both my wife and her OP are usually very up on these things...

Yes.

Try this old post, AH.<p>Estes<p>Snooping<p>[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Estes49 ]</p>

Always Hopeful,<p>I bumped up three (3) old threads for you regarding system snooping.<p>Good luck,
Jo<p>[ April 11, 2002: Message edited by: Resilient ]</p>

Jo,<p>Thanks for finding these threads. But after reading them, the programs mentioned seem to only monitor the PC's that they are loaded on. I was wondering if there are actually programs used by someone else (remotely from their computer) that can get into my computer and read my files...

No, that would be hacking. www.spectorsoft.com has sotfware that hides (will not appear in the list of programs when you hit ctrl+alt+del). The only way you can access is by hitting up to four keys at the same time - I used ctrl+alt+shift+] for my access code. Once the code is typed, you receive a message asking for a password. The software will take pictures as often as you wish - I selected every 20 seconds. Another type of software will actually email you - to another computer - every site they visit as well as all of their key strokes from chatrooms. I think it has some difficulty with keystrokes in java though. I know it captures all chat strokes in aol instant messenger.

Conan's right, there are programs that allow someone to access everything on your computer, almost as easily as they could if they were sitting at your keyboard.<p>The ones I'm familiar with (I know of 3) require that files be installed on the pc to be monitored. Current editions of programs like Norton Anti-Virus will detect and remove the files if they're found on your pc.

take a look at www.iopus.com starrcmd

Actually technically YES. There was a virus out a while back that once installed would allow the person on the other end to monitor or even control your computer. People would send it out as a gag and then move the other persons mouse and such when they were working. It would come as an attachment, so it was technically loaded on that machine and not remotely. Have you opened any unusual attachments sent by anyone? Also, if you have a dedicated connection such as DSL or Wireless, there are ways to hack into that pretty easily unless you have a good firewall and/or password protect your drives and folders.

I actually found something that sounds like what you are talking about...to me this fringes on hacking... the software product is called ispymail spy software and can be found at http://www.ispymail.com . I have not used it myself but the website say that the program can monitor another computer from your own by e-mailing a small discreet file to the person, or monitor your own computer by installing the software. <p>Bluebird

Yes there are. One from Spectorsoft, called eBlaster will send periodic emails to whoever installed it with all your keystrokes, web sites you've visited, windows you've opened, etc.
Believe me, there's a lot of that stuff out there and if someone wants to, they can remotely monitor what you're doing on your PC.

I will add that they do have to have access to your PC to install it. Once it's installed, it blasts away all your info as often as they program it to do so.

Thank you to everyone who posts info here. It's amazing how quickly we can gain information on topics here!<p>At a soccer game this weekend, another one of the Mom's lamented about her 15 year old having a lap top & she not knowing what all he did on it. I asked her if she would like to know. OF COURSE was her anwser. I told her about the spyware info on this thread & she was very thankful. So my friend Julie thanks you even though she dosn't have a clue who you are. (& I hope she never finds out for her sake!)<p> [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]

You've had some pretty good information here, but I thought I"d throw in my two cents also.<p>Two things come to mind. First, packet sniffers. I think generally this would require being on the same subnet (same house with a home network or maybe same neighborhood with cable modem). It allows someone to capture information that your computer sends down the wire. If, for instance, you use a nonsecure protocol to log in somewhere where sends a password as unencrypted text, someone could capture it with a packet sniffer.<p>The second thing does require a program on your computer to essentially turn it into a server. Microsoft's file and printer sharing can potentially allow someone to access files on your computer remotely. Spy programs have already been mentioned, and yes, people who hack in or send email attachments can get something on your computer without physical access. There was even a recent story at The Register about html code that could allow a web site to start a program on an Internet Explorer user's computer even if they don't have javascript ennabled.<p>Aside from spyware, I use vnc, a free remote control program developed by AT&T labs in England. I can view a remote desktop with it and see everything on it live. Again this would require installation on your computer, and I think that it will always appear in the taskbar, but I'm sure that this need not be the case with such a program.<p>Bottom line, lack of physical access to your computer helps but doesn't guarantee your security. If you lay out the scenario a little more specifically you might get more specific advice as to preventative measures. Details like specific concerns, OS used, method of connection to the internet, who has physical access, etc.<p>Measures might range from tools like firewalls and antivirus programs to monitoring programs and disks for changes and using a more secure operating system. I use Linux, but for those wedded to Windows moving to 2000 or XP is much better than 9x, allowing logging, password protection, and a filesystem that can help prevent installation of software by someone who doesn't have the admin password.<p>Hope this helps more than it confuses.<p>Steve

Thanks for all the info-<p>Now I'm left wondering if there is a product out there that can detect if such a spy program has been installed in my computer. <p>I recently purchased McAffe Quickclean to erase some of the files. But I doubt whether this program would find a sophisticated spy program.