Category: Geeks r Us
Hi all,
So, last night my neighbor, whom I didn't know from a hole in a cat's rectum knocked on my door and, with no preamble wanted to know why I was "in" his computer. Now, I'm somewhat computer savvy, but I haven't the slightest notion on how to hack a pc, nor the inclination to do so. When looking on his network connections under the "computers" heading I can see his PC, and he can see mine. I can also see my wife's and another neighbor's. We all share the same wi-fi. I expected that just meant all these computers are on the network, but he insists if anyone is under that "computer" heading in the network window that they have access. Does anyone know anything about this? I did remove a trojan and something else with Microsoft Security essentials after he told me about this. I had a rather nasty bit of malware called QQPC from the Chinese Tencent corperation a few weeks ago, but as far as I know I was able to remove it. He is "giving me the benifit of the doubt" for now, but he's really intense about it too and I'd really like to clear this up. He's going to school for computers , whatever that means, and "sounds" like he knows what he's talking about. I can't tell if he's in the right and someone is acting through my pc, or if he's just paranoid and full of drama and smelly bollucks.
I think I'd just lose my self-control if I was accused of hacking. I can barely log into The Zone! Forget hacking!
I know it can be done, and he's probably right that if you can see his computer stuff, you could theoretically get into it. Now, knowing how? That's something different. I'd ask someone who knows about "Networking". Anyone who can tell you about that, could tell you about hacking. I don't mean, if someone's heard the word, but someone who's programming skills include setting up networks, for a living, or even as a hobby.
I'll ask, and try to find out what I can.
Blessings,
Sarah
He's blowing smoke.
Even if you were hacking him, you have other computers on the network, so he'd not know who got him.
If he was good enough to do a trace, he'd also be good enough to stop you from hacking him.
He's not.
Now, here's what I don't understand. Why do you share the same network?
Even in places that have an internet connection that is public, you share that, but not a net work unless you are at a job site.
If you share a network, nothings private, and you should think about getting off that system.
You can see other computers, because they have conections, or wireless set up, but you shouldn't be on the same network.
Thanks Sarah. Forereal that's a good question. Perhaps I'm unaware of the answer. As far as I was aware I don't share a network. A wireless network certainly, but not a cluster of shared PCs. When I go into my networks list I see several under "computers". I guess that means we're all linked on a network? In that hase I really need to disconnect from that. I clicked on my wife's PC and got prompted with a username nad password entry, so at least that means they are protected I supppose, but we should not be on the same network. Period.
Sorry also for crappy typing. Using a braille keyboard for the first time in many years (just to keep my skills sharp) and I see I made a few mistakes.
If you pay for a private service, you are confusing network with seeing other people that have wireless.
That is not a network, but is the wireless broadcasting it is there.
Set up properly, you can't get on someones wireless unless you have the password.
Some people leave it open, so it is public.
I could explain it technically, but for ease, change your wireless password, or the password under wireless settings.
This will require you to change it on all devices.
Select the routers suggested settings as well.
You have to get in to your routers settings.
You will still see other wireless broadcast, but these are not networks.
You can set yours not to broadcast if you like, but that requires setting up all your devices, and when you wish to add one, knowing the address and settings to join.
I'd leave mine broadcasting, just strengthen the password.
Need more information, ask, and I'll provide you with a link to explain it.
As to your neighbor, he's blowing smoke, but you can protect yourself by changing that password.
Good luck.
It's actually not my wireless network. But it does have a pretty strong password. I honestly think he's just confused. He's concernned about his data, as well as as soon as he saw my name on the network list his computer started to act very strange. Just concernned and outraged I believe. But what you were saying makes sense.
Don't know why you all share the same WIFI but I'm guessing that has something to do with it. I have my own router and WIFI and I don't see my wife or kids computers listed anyplace on my computer. We do share the same router/WIFI. I do see a list of other routers that are near by but those are different routers/WIFIs.
The list I believe he and his neighbor are seeing is the list of routers near by.
They are listed as networks, but are not joined.
To join one of these, you must click on the name, and if it is protected, put the password in.
From what I understand, he's not sharing his local network, and has it password protected.
I'd still change mine.
Seeing your name on the list, and his computer starting to act odd are not same.
He could actually be hacked, but it not be from you.
If you were a hacker worth your salt, you'd not be showing up on his computer announcing you are there. Smile.
I suppose if the problem gets out of hand, you could enlist the technical department of your police to explain you aren't hacking him.
Otherwise, forget it. He has to prove you are, and even if someone is using your system to get to others, it can be ttraced.
Change your password. This is sound advice when you have something like this happening, or a complaint.
Also, if you feel better, hide your router from broadcasting.
This is under the wireless settings.
It doesn't have to broadcast to work as I've told you above.
When you hide it, you won't appear on the list you see all your neighbors, or routers near by.
Thanks everyone. I figured it was just a list of the computers on the
wi-fi. I can't even access them unless, as you say, I enter a username and password. I think it was just two unrelated issues melding in this man's mind. And, we share the Wi-fi of the business above which we live in order to save a little money. For five years the only trouble we've had is slightly slow internet at times.
Still not sure why you see all the computers using the WIFI. Could be how that business has it set up. However if your neighbor doesn't like it he can get his own router and not use the shared Internet service.
You see all the routers/modems that broadcast. This is not a WI FI thing, but windows.
The reason you see them is your wireless card finds them.
Example, if you have a laptop and you go to your friends home.
You can see your friends wireless network. If you have your friends password, you can sign on, and use it.
Same with eating places, bars, coffee shops.
You have to be able to see the broadcast to find it to sign on unless you know it's information to find it without seeing it.
You also have to know it is there, if you can't see it.
This is the same with any device that can connect to the internet. You can see the list of available networks unless you disable it, and that doesn't make sense.
Now, to the business. You share the businesses Wi Fi, so can not change the password. It isn't your network.
Saying that, you are really not responsible for your neighbors issues, because you don't control the router.
If the neighbor is using the same connection, the owner of the router is the administrator.
Forereel he said he sees the computers on the router. Not different routers at least that was my understanding. Don't know why his wife and neighbor would have a different router and then share one also.
If you had nasty viruses on your computer, those could have done the hacking for you, without you ever having known about it. So this guy could be right, but not because you were intentionally doing anything, but because you had malware on your computer that was doing it for you. The fact that you share a wifi would only make it easier for the virus to go where it shouldn't, I would guess.
No. If he was so good at tracing, he'd know how to block him.
He's blowing smoke.
I agree about the router, but I think he's on the businesses router not his own.
Still can see other routers however if they are broadcasting.
Seeing other routers and seeing other computers are different animals, you don't see routers in the network section of your computer. You only tend to see those in the network and sharing center, which is a different place. What I think he's seeing is the devices on the network, like you can see other computers that are sharing the same connection as you. Just because you see those computers doesn't mean you can access them, or that you were hacked by them. I can see at least 3 other computers on my local network, including my own mac, doesn't mean they can get stuff from me, or me from them.
True, but I think he's seeing routers, because they say networks.
I can delete other computers in the other section if I choose.
Okay. I'm going to try to clear some things up.
First, if you and your family pay for your internet bill, you need to change your WI-FI password and figure out how this guy is using your network.
Second, you are not hacking him if you can see his computer. Basically it works like this. You join a network (which is a group of computers on a wifi network or behind a router) and people who have their workgroup set to the same name can all see each other. This allows for file and printer sharing, but nothing else. It's not the most secure in the world, which is why windows 7+ gives you the opportunity to note that you're on a work/public/home network; these features are disabled for security purposes. The neighbor is blowing smoke out his ass and knows nothing of what he's talking about.
Well they're all on the same business router so he's most likely seeing all of the computers on that router. Doesn't ma meany any hacking is going on.
He still sees mine and I see his. I'm not worried. He's just confused I think. He's gotten his own router now and seems to be happier, so who am I to complain.:)
I'm tech savvy to, but not about this kind of thing; however , you might still have malware on your computer, so I would do a scan with every antivirus program you have. Has your computer been acting different in any way especially when it comes to using the internet?
hi, you say that both computers are on the same network, so it is possible for
them too “see” each other, it is not the same as actively going in on it, a way of
putting it differently could be that you can see the door but you don’t have the
key to open it up.
Now i am assuming that this is windows so what you can and can’t do by default
i have no idea about but on a mac you might be able to see another computer
but not go in on it.
That should take care of that.
It didn't. But after he got the new router I never heard from him. It was a volatile situation which arose out of ignorance and misunderstanding. But I appreciate everyone's advice.
May I suggest that you invest in your own router, or does the network you are using have no security? this is very uncommon, and any bank transfers that you complete over the internet can be intercepted, although it requires tremendous intelligence, I think. What do I know. It's not like I am a hacker, just a college student, lol. :) Also, just because someone is pursuing a degree doesn't mean they are more intellectual than someone with a high school diploma. Remember that. Lol:)
i don't know if you have 2 or more computers on the same net work
according to my win blows books they can "see " each other as before stated,
but you need a password to log on to them so, the computer you are looking
at is perfectly save, it is common practice to do this, mainly cause windows
users are stupid, at least that was the case round xp time , and it might never
have been changed.
Now for your bank statements, and alike, i am guessing that you are in the
US, so unless the internet security in the US have fallen below european
standards you have https, which means secure http, it is not 100% safe, but it
is a good step in the right direction.
What does all this mean,
1 your fella got his own router now, so he is happy. You should be to, with out
knowing your Inet setup, i would say you are relatively safe as well, as far as
kids for the home market goes.
Of course if you are totally security conscious, your best bet would be to get a
mac, and use that as a firewall sitting it right behind your router.
What i mean by this is, imagine a straight line, router, Mac, Different
connections.
I have done this usually not becuase I'm scared of getting attacked, but
because my Internet provider did not give me a router, just a connection so it
was up to me to make sure i was safe on the net, and the computer i used as
a FW did this adoringly.
It is all down to what do you need, and how hard to you need it to be.
If you need more help with your setup you are more than welcome to either
write your questions out here, or send me a private message. But as i said
before, if it aint broken don't fix it.
Sandi
yes, I'm not concernned. We have security on our router, and the guy is gone now. he was just paranoid.