John Barnett - MVP
December 6th 03, 10:32 AM
If a person does not have your permission to access your
pc files the, to all intent and purpose, he/she has
invaded your privacy. What this person you describe is
doing is nothing short of 'hacking' into your computer.
Now i don't know what country you are in, but here in the
UK such a baltant invasion of privacy would be covered by
the computer misuse act.
As for the persopn/company you purchased your pc from
setting up multiple accounts, what right do they have to
even contemplate such a thing. The computer is 'your'
property, not theirs. The only right that they have is to
install the software, in your home, and to your
satisfaction. They do not have a right, legally or
morally, to create bogus profiles that enable them to
access your data without your knowledge. To put it into
context it is just like a burglar entering your property
when you are out and stealing your goods.
John Barnett - MVP
Associate Expert
>-----Original Message-----
>As far as I'm concerned, it is an illegal act. With
>Windows XP, you are able to set up multiple accounts and
>have remote access to the computer from another
location.
>It isn't illegal to have, the person/company who you
>purchased the computer from, setup multiple accounts.
>However, I would imagine it is illegal to setup remote
>access to your computer without your permission. I do
not
>know where to find a copy of the laws pretaining to this
>but I would try to find something or someone who can
help
>you.
>
>If you can't find anything and decide to forget about
it,
>my suggestion would be to format your computer.(which
>means delete everything off of the computer and
reinstall
>windows xp). This also requires to reinstall all the
>other programs that were on your computer. By doing
this,
>you setup the accounts and control the settings. This
>way, the other guy won't be able to have access. Now,
>having said that, I know you don't know much about
>computers so your best bet is to get your friend to help
>you do this. Good luck.
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>My husband bought a computer for me. We neither one
know
>>about computers, we had someone come to our home to
>>install it. I started to notice that when I wanted to
>>shut it down it would say someone else was using it.
>>Then photos I had in a folder disappeared, two in
>>particular that the installer did not like the person
in
>>the photo. I put it in the 'Guest Site' and disovered
>>all sorts of icons on that site and when I discovered
>>folders there I copied about a hundred pages that were
>>there some of which had my full name, not just my yahoo
>>name on them and I began to wonder if this installer
was
>>reading my e-mail. I called another person who
installs
>>and he showed my husband and me where the first
>installer
>>had set himself up the task administrater and even had
>>assess to our passwords. We feel our privacy has been
>>invaded and I want to know if this was an illegal act?
>>He is ham operator and even had his call letters on
some
>>of the papers he had stored on my computer that he did
>>not have permission to even use, he seemed to know if I
>>was using mine, it would always ask me if I was sure I
>>wanted to shut down, others users might lose data. Is
>>there some sort of fcc of this? Please help us as my
>>husband and I are older and in ill health and this has
>>been a nightmare to us. Can it be legal for another
>>person to use your compuer from another location and
>even
>>store folders full of their things on your computer
>>without even asking for permission? If it is illegal
>>where can I get a copy of laws on this as I plan to
>>confront this person? Thank you for your help.
>>.
>>
>.
>
pc files the, to all intent and purpose, he/she has
invaded your privacy. What this person you describe is
doing is nothing short of 'hacking' into your computer.
Now i don't know what country you are in, but here in the
UK such a baltant invasion of privacy would be covered by
the computer misuse act.
As for the persopn/company you purchased your pc from
setting up multiple accounts, what right do they have to
even contemplate such a thing. The computer is 'your'
property, not theirs. The only right that they have is to
install the software, in your home, and to your
satisfaction. They do not have a right, legally or
morally, to create bogus profiles that enable them to
access your data without your knowledge. To put it into
context it is just like a burglar entering your property
when you are out and stealing your goods.
John Barnett - MVP
Associate Expert
>-----Original Message-----
>As far as I'm concerned, it is an illegal act. With
>Windows XP, you are able to set up multiple accounts and
>have remote access to the computer from another
location.
>It isn't illegal to have, the person/company who you
>purchased the computer from, setup multiple accounts.
>However, I would imagine it is illegal to setup remote
>access to your computer without your permission. I do
not
>know where to find a copy of the laws pretaining to this
>but I would try to find something or someone who can
help
>you.
>
>If you can't find anything and decide to forget about
it,
>my suggestion would be to format your computer.(which
>means delete everything off of the computer and
reinstall
>windows xp). This also requires to reinstall all the
>other programs that were on your computer. By doing
this,
>you setup the accounts and control the settings. This
>way, the other guy won't be able to have access. Now,
>having said that, I know you don't know much about
>computers so your best bet is to get your friend to help
>you do this. Good luck.
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>My husband bought a computer for me. We neither one
know
>>about computers, we had someone come to our home to
>>install it. I started to notice that when I wanted to
>>shut it down it would say someone else was using it.
>>Then photos I had in a folder disappeared, two in
>>particular that the installer did not like the person
in
>>the photo. I put it in the 'Guest Site' and disovered
>>all sorts of icons on that site and when I discovered
>>folders there I copied about a hundred pages that were
>>there some of which had my full name, not just my yahoo
>>name on them and I began to wonder if this installer
was
>>reading my e-mail. I called another person who
installs
>>and he showed my husband and me where the first
>installer
>>had set himself up the task administrater and even had
>>assess to our passwords. We feel our privacy has been
>>invaded and I want to know if this was an illegal act?
>>He is ham operator and even had his call letters on
some
>>of the papers he had stored on my computer that he did
>>not have permission to even use, he seemed to know if I
>>was using mine, it would always ask me if I was sure I
>>wanted to shut down, others users might lose data. Is
>>there some sort of fcc of this? Please help us as my
>>husband and I are older and in ill health and this has
>>been a nightmare to us. Can it be legal for another
>>person to use your compuer from another location and
>even
>>store folders full of their things on your computer
>>without even asking for permission? If it is illegal
>>where can I get a copy of laws on this as I plan to
>>confront this person? Thank you for your help.
>>.
>>
>.
>