From: gts (gts_2000@yahoo.com)
Date: Sat Feb 22 2003 - 08:06:23 MST
Samantha wrote:
> It is more likely that it was obtained by any site you used it on
> that is a bit lax with the security of such user credentials.
> Then the offender could simply try it in other places where you
> have been seen on the Net.
Yes, thanks, this possibility has also occurred to me. I've always known
it is unwise to use the same password at multiple sites, but in practice
is so much easier to remember only one password that I have succumbed to
laziness in this respect for casual purposes. In reality I do in fact
use two passwords, however, one for sensitive information and one for
"casual" uses such as website logons. So far I have evidence only that
my casual password has been stolen. My real concern however is that the
intruder has used keylogging software, in which case my hi-security
password may also have been stolen. This could potentially be disastrous
for me if the information fell into the wrong hands. This person seems
so far interested only in disrupting my personal life. I can only hope
and wish that this is her (his?) only motivation. My computer is
integral to my financial life and my professional life, which leaves me
vulnerable to things much worse.
Reason's recommendation (thank you) to save data files and reformat is
the obvious solution to re-establishing my computer security, and
obviously I will be doing this very soon, probably within the next 48-72
hours. However I was and am still hoping that someone here might be an
expert on the subject of keylogging and anti-keylogging software, so
that I can determine immediately if in fact my security is being
compromised in this way. I have no idea if the trial products I have
downloaded and tried ("Anti-keylogger" by Raytown Corporation and
"SpyCop") are worthwhile programs. I do not know how to interpret the
suspect data returned by Raytown's Anti-keylogger product, which comes
with almost no documentation. The SpyCop product returned news of
nothing suspicious, which is great news but only if this is in fact a
reliable product for detecting keylogging.
In the meantime I am just being very careful about what I do and type,
so that any surveillance software that might be present will see nothing
of interest other than my own attempts to defeat it.
Thank you also to Alfio, who sent me some valuable advice offlist.
-gts
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