I need some advice.. Please (viewed CP site)
 

I was recently looking at porn, just different sites watching streaming movies and the likes. Obviously i was just clicking on random links, all of a sudden an illegal webpage opened, it was an illegal site of child pornography, but as soon as it opened i closed but more and more kept on popping up. I have read in detail the post on here about this sort of stuff on lime wire. I didnt down load anything from these sites and as soon as they opened i closed them all, now im really worried. I have been running spy bot search nd destroy and it found a few trojans, maybe this is what caused it.. Please tell me should i be worried, i live in the uk and am totall crapping it... I honestly have no interest in this stuff and will be alot more vcarefull from now on,...


thanks

Well, when you view a page, everything on that page is automatically downloaded to your computer. So I would get one of those HD scrubbers like Eraser to get rid of that stuff. You more than likeley got a Trojan or some kind of malware from visiting random porn sites. You can report those sites if you'd like, but I'm assuming you didn't take the time to see what they were called and just tryed to X out of them ASAP. I'd assume this has happened to people before, and since you wern't searching for it or paid for anything I wouldnt worry too much about it.

Problems browsing the web
 

Woodnights

I suspected that you use Internet Explorer as your browser, which is always under attack when surfing the web and you made no mention of using an anti-virus app.

I would like to make a couple of suggestions that may help you out, i.e. keep you relatively safe while surfing and offer your PC overall protection.

1) If you do not have an AV app then either download Avast or AVG, both are free and will give that much needed PC protection.

2) When surfing dodgy web-sites you should use Firefox, along with a number of security add-ons. Most people like Firefox because it seems have more safety (and security) features than any other browser. However, I have found that it requires a reasonably powered CPU and lots of memory, e.g. 1 - 2GB.

I would also like to add that you should have Ad-Aware and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (both free anti-spyware apps) to your protective arsenal.

One further point, the ultimate protection you can have for your PC is your own common sense.


UK Bob

Thanks for the replies, I actually use Mozzilla firefox, and i use avg too. But wether the settings are set right is another thing.. When i done the spy bot search and destroy it found five trojans and i think it has now cleared them.. Cant help but worry though. The last thing i need is a knock at the door.. What do you think the chances are of anything coming of this.. I dont know much about computers but deep down i think the chances must be low.. I keep thinking that after those sites were brought up on my screen then my ip address has been registered with the site and the police will find my ip address has looked at those sites...

thanks

Woodnights

I can tell you this, at the moment although the UK government is trying to push through legislation whereby they can spy on all UK citizens web activities, that law has not been passed yet.

Legal Eye: Does Home Office online surveillance go too far? - silicon.com

Although, it is possible that an official can ask your ISP for a record of your web usuage but, I guess, you would have to do something (or be suspected of something) before that can happen.

As far as I know, snooping does not happen randomly it has to be targetted.

So unless some official has got a grudge against you and/or you (or a member of your family) have done something that warrants scrutiny then you are safe.


UK Bob

Thanks for that Bob, so in other words there will of been noone watching my computer to see
what was done....

This is confusing, so unless someone was physically watching my computer its safe to say i'll be ok.... s the chances of someone watching my computer are pretty slim.. I suppose when i think about it, pople who are caught are always caught with lots of images and videos and i suppose they are caught cause they pay by credit card or somethink like that...

Sorry Woodnights

I think you have misunderstood what I have tried to relay.

Now, someone doesn't have to physically watch your PC to catch you doing something wrong, all they have to do is pick up your electronic trail and your ISP has that.

What I am saying is that if you or your family are suspected of something an official can ask your ISP for the records of your web activities. However, if you are an ordinary law abiding and tax paying guy then no official will have reason to ask for your web activities.


UK Bob

so if you had tto say yes or no to if you think i hve anything to worry about what would your nswer be..

thanks

I think what UKBOB is trying to say is that if you havent been doing alot of illegal things on your computer that would cause you to be suspected of something, then you don't have much to worry about.

When the Feds find these sites, they tend to shut them down and then go after the people that paid for a mebmbership or signed up/registered for something. The mere presence of your IP visiting that site would more then likely not be enough evidence for intent.

Unless your ISP saw that you had stumbled upon those sites at that EXACT moment(something I would consider rare) and reported it to the cops, I still say that you are probably okay. It's not like this accidentally happends to you on a daily basis, right? ;)

Thanks for your reply bci, its such a shitty matter that i cant help worry about it, but i suppose i prob am taking things a bit far by worrying so much....

Thanks for all the replys

I would just like to add, security should be your first and most important program on your computer. IMO.

With that said, do everything possible that you can do, to stay as safe as possible. There isn't one single App or Program that can do this for you.

You will need several different Apps. and even then you will still be vulnerable.

I myself will only use a purchased security program with Firewall.

Many, many people will disagree and say "I don't use any security at all". Well I say Great for you. I totally disagree. As a matter of fact, I don't think you can ever have enough. I prolly have at least 6 different types of Malware and Spyware Apps., some are real time and some are just scanners.

I think most importantly is your AntiVirus/Firewall Program. The one I use will actually prevent you from accessing sites as the one you mistakenly entered.

My AV has a section that has the following protection enabled:

Identity Safe
Browser Protection
Safe Surfing
Download Intelligence

With many other types of protection enabled as well.

Some say the Free stuff is some of the best, Maybe, but I'm not haveing it.

In closing, I also agree with the others Woodnights, I don't think you have anything to worry about, as long as the act was as innocent as you say it was.

Good Luck!!

Thanks for your replies guys and for taking the time to get back to me..... I can assure you one thing, and that is that i would never ever ever knowingly serch for that kind of stuff... I have young nieces and nephews who i love very much and would never dream of that kind of ****...... What worries me is.. If this was a trojan how much more **** has it put on my browser and histry..... I feel like destroying my pc and then that would be the end of it all.....

pop ups like you describe are insidious and annoying....if they just happened that once then it was a case of links within links within links...if it persists then you prolly have a trojan or something...

a one time occurrence like you mention shouldn't raise the eyebrows of the law..

Well, you can search your computer for images and video's, and if you find illegal stuff on your computer then I guess that would answer your question as to whether or not you had some kind of malicous software or trojan running in the backround of your computer..these types of trojans are starting to become more of a problem, or so I've been seeing in the news anyways. It really is a scary thought, ecspecially with the penalties and the stigmas that come with these kind of issues. You can just get a new hard drive if you're really paranoid, but from what you described happening, I really don't feel thats needed. I'd imagine this has happened to alot of people..I mean think about ALL the people that search for pron every day. Think about ALL the people that use the internet without any security features. You're not the first person this has happened too, and you're deff. not the last either. I would get that ERASER program I mentioned earlier and let it run its course for some peace of mind, but other than that I really wouldnt worry about this too much. Really.