My computer at home has been hacked how do I secure my computer?

Question

I have every reason to believe my ex-employer has hacked my computer and has checked my email addresses as well as my linked in account in order to see if I am applying to go to a competitor.

Once I realized this I changed all my email passwords, paid, downloaded and installed AVG firewall (I had the avg free anti-virus before) and updated all my windows applications. (windows defender has always been on).

What else do I need to do to completely cut off their access?

Shoul I install another firewall?

Should I install a hardware firewall? (is there a cost efficient one?)

Should I ask my ISP to change my IP address (I use a ADSL2 broadband connection through a Netcomm 4 port ADSL router)

Should I change my ISP altogether?

How do I put an end to this?

I believe they have also checked all my outlook and hotmail emails.

Could you please provide me with the steps I need to take in order to resolve this?

I use windows XP, and ADSL2 connections with a 4 port router (only one port is used as there isn't any other computer in this house)

Thanks

Answer 1

install a firewall and change your IP address for sure



and u can switch to ubuntu as well( nice suggestion up there)

Ubuntu will be tuff cause hacking linux ain't that simple

Answer 2

i think there are some good answers here already. here's just a few more things to think about. you can make windows force someone to press ctrl-alt-del to log onto the comp, which will make remote logon more difficult. you should also make sure that you have *actually* changed your passwords. I'm the IT Manager for my company, and I watched a user change his PW from Awesome1 to Awesome2. That's not a change. If you want a good strong password, think of a favorite saying or quote or Bible passage or song lyric or something like that, and take the first letters of each word. For example: "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting, Those Kicks were fast as lighning" becomes my PW of EWKFFTKWFAL. Then you can alternate Caps and Small letters and throw in a few number-letter substitutions so you get this: 3WkFf7kWfA1, which is nearly an unbreakable password.

Answer 3

Are you sure your ex-employer would do something so unethical and risk bringing the name of their company in to disrepute? You should contact your ISP, ask them to provide the IP addresses of everyone that has accessed your account via their mail servers. If you can prove that it was infact your ex-employer you would definately have a court case. This is pretty serious.



It has me buggered how they managed to 'hack' your computer though. It's more likely that they somehow simply gained access to your email accounts by guessing your passwords.



As for security - you've done pretty much all that is required to secure your connection. You shouldn't have any problems, though keep an eye on your firewall logs - if your ex-employer did somehow manage to access your connection once before it's entirely possible they will try again.

Answer 4

Try changing your IP address. You can't really keep putting up more firewalls. If you think you know who it is and what they are doing maybe you should go to the police - hacking is illegal

Answer 5

Cut it short, switch to Ubuntu Linux



http://www.ubuntu.com/community/ubuntustory/philosophy

Answer 6

you have changed only the e mail passwords

why not close the present email accounts and create new e mail accounts with strong passwords.

Answer 7

Hi its veary simple dont wory just chance your computer....

it will get a end to your problem and a brand new system

Answer 8

start your firewall and start any good antivirus