Help! I may have been robbed.

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Hi, I use Avast Free (for now) and this is what happened. Well, I do A LOT of financial transactions (online banking) and over the past few months I think I have lost close to 900 dollars from my online bank accounts (slowly). So I try to figure this out…

I share my computer with a friend of mine (my ex-friend now) and I think he may have installed something called Specter PRO on my computer in the past few months(I just let him use the Admin…I know Im stupid) … Specter PRO I found out is a semi-“legit” program that tracks EVERYTHING you do on the computer while being hidden (even from ADMIN!) BUT, I did download and install Avast Free last month (while this was all happening) and ran a “full scan” it did not detect anything… So, maybe there is no spyware on my computer? Or does Avast not detect “legit” spyware like Specter PRO or netnanny?

P.S. If it does, I will BUY AVAST RIGHT NOW!

2

I think you should look at your banking transactions and examine each transfer entry you (or someone else) did from your credit card.

3

Yes, this is good advice. But Im curious would Avast detect such a ‘commercial spyware’ software? I say this because I cannot logically think of any other way someone would have access to my account…without stealing my password using SpecterPRO (or something similar).

4

Silent Firewall
Stops hackers, using heuristic and behavioral analysis and a white list of safe applications.

avast! SafeZone™
Opens a new (clean) desktop so that other applications don’t see what’s happening – perfect for banking or secure ordering/shopping – and leaves no traces once it’s closed.

avast! Sandbox
Provides an extra layer of security for you to run your PC and its applications in a virtual environment – where any attacks are thus targeted (instead of your real PC).

Antispam
Comprehensive spam and phishing filter, which works as a plug-in to MS Outlook and a generic POP3/IMAP4 proxy for other email clients.

This couldnt help you to counter it Beezee ? As you said “Specter PRO i found out is a semi-“legit” program that tracks EVERYTHING” so isnt these 4 shields could help you and let you in peace ?

I think if you bank alot i think the Firewall and SafeZone look great for you. And if you give alot your computer to others i think Sandbox or SafeZone is a good choice. Also AntiSpam so you wont get annoyed in email as because email can also have viruses too. Depend for the AntiSpam look the requirements.

Because those features that avast! give seem to suit you to do a very very safe banking and also webrep might be welcome on your navigator it is a good addons i find it no annoying for me.

Edit : Also if you give others your computer you might want to try the feature of avast! “Password” in main Settings so only you and no anyone will got the access to avast!. “Put the password on a place where you wont lose it like “paper” on your chamber or on you.” Also maybe a control parental like the one of windows or one that you like if you dont want him to watch porn or such others stuffs. I heard for control parental that K9 is very liked so im not sure if it is good but another can confirm it here or if you ask it.

Mr.Agent

5

Well it also depends on your scan settings as such key logger programs, might be considered PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) is I believe off by default in the Quick and Full System (pre-defined) scans.

This would apply equally to legit key loggers.

Edit: Added image.

6
  1. Don’t let anyone else act as administrator.
  2. Upgrade to avast internet security.
  3. Use MalwareBytes http://filehippo.com/download_malwarebytes_anti_malware/
  4. Use Super Anti- Spyware http://filehippo.com/download_superantispyware/
  5. Use Ccleaner http://filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/
    and/or Winutilities Free http://download.cnet.com/WinUtilities-Free-Edition/3000-18512_4-75021441.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody;1d

Hope these links help. :slight_smile:

7

Stay Windows and others programs up to date.

8

In addition to the above suggestions, hide your email from this forum so spammers do not harvest it: Go to Profile > Account Related Settings > click the box to “Hide Email Address”…only you and the Moderators will see your email after this.

Also, change the password on all your accounts including financial and email accounts. Change the account #'s on your banks and tell them it is due to ID Theft…no questions asked. Get an immediate free credit report due to ID Theft/fraud.

The situation you are dealing with could have happened by many means, but certainly adding extra security to your machine will help avoid future problems. Taking the steps I mentioned will see if you are a victim of ID Theft and if so you will need to take further action.

9

Have you contacted all your financial institutions via phone or in person and had them change your account passwords? If you haven’t, then whatever protection you have on your machine now (even after SpecterPRO or whatever is cleaned out) likely won’t help. The slow siphoning from your account may actually be done using your passwords on another machine.