marietheauthor

Q: Can I determine someone is tracking my PC?

Today I was working on editing my iBook in iBook Author and it kept crashing.

A short time later I was searching Google with Safari and after visiting a facebook page, noticed my screen froze for about 30 seconds. It freed up and I am sure I detected a flash (on-off) movement.

My screen had my favourite bar on the side.

Only Mac support people have accessed my computer. This makes me feel nervous.

Anyone know how I can detect if they installed spyware somewhere in my files?

Thanks. Marie

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4), upgraded to Capitain today

Posted on May 22, 2016 10:33 PM

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Q: Can I determine someone is tracking my PC?

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  • by stevejobsfan0123,Helpful

    stevejobsfan0123 stevejobsfan0123 May 23, 2016 5:27 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 8 (43,474 points)
    iPhone
    May 23, 2016 5:27 AM in response to marietheauthor

    Simple freezing is no cause for concern over malware or spyware, but if you need piece of mind then try running MalwareBytes: http://malwarebytes.org/antimalware/mac.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor May 23, 2016 5:36 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 5:36 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

    Thank you stevejobsfan0123, your answer is fine. However, the 'flash' or glitch it gave at the same time is a bit disconcerting. I immediately ran my mac keeper internet, and freezing has not since occurred today.

    2 points to my concerns that I am still searching for answers to: The fact that I had 3 collapses of ibooks I was working on a short time before, and I had just visited a fb site when the freeze/flash occurred. I am suspicious all right.

    I did read an informative blog that said the person would need to install something on my computer first, and they would be hanging around on my browser bar.

    If you know how I can search my files for installed malware that would not be detected by mac keeper? 

    I did purchase a malwarebytes for xp but prefer not to mix malwarebytes with mac keeper as it cost me a lot and they may clash.

    I am on the lookout for an attacker. I have had one of those twice before, one hacked my passwords and my emails, so I am on edge.

    Thanks again.

    Marie

  • by stevejobsfan0123,Helpful

    stevejobsfan0123 stevejobsfan0123 May 23, 2016 5:47 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 8 (43,474 points)
    iPhone
    May 23, 2016 5:47 AM in response to marietheauthor

    You need to uninstall MacKeeper right away as you fell for a scam:

    Do not install MacKeeper

    http://www.thesafemac.com/ongoing-mackeeper-fraud/

     

    That may be the source of your problems.

     

    P.S. MalwareBytes for Mac does not cost anything.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor May 23, 2016 5:48 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 5:48 AM in response to stevejobsfan0123

    Wow, thanks Steve.

    I am shocked.

    Marie

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 23, 2016 9:51 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 23, 2016 9:51 AM in response to marietheauthor

    marietheauthor wrote:

     

    I did purchase a malwarebytes for xp but prefer not to mix malwarebytes with mac keeper as it cost me a lot and they may clash.

     

    They most certainly will clash - Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for Mac will detect MacKeeper as a PUP (potentially unwanted program). MacKeeper is a scam, using dishonest methods to convince you to buy it.

     

    As for the question of whether someone has remote access to your computer, I notice that you say that "only Mac support people" have had access to your Mac. Who were these Mac support people? Did you search online for something like "Mac support" and call a number you found on a site other than Apple's site (in which case they weren't really Apple techs)? Or were these definitely real Apple representatives?

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass May 23, 2016 10:16 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 10 (187,759 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 10:16 AM in response to marietheauthor
  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis May 23, 2016 10:41 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 10 (207,926 points)
    Applications
    May 23, 2016 10:41 AM in response to marietheauthor

    First, never use any kind of "anti-virus" or "anti-malware" software on a Mac. That's how you cause problems, not how you solve them.


    You've stated no reason to suspect that spyware has been installed—assuming, of course, that it was really Apple Support that you gave remote access to, rather than an impersonator.


    To avoid being infected with spyware or other malicious software, never download and run any software that you don't need, merely because someone or something on a website told you to.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor May 23, 2016 4:56 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 4:56 PM in response to thomas_r.

    thomas_r thank you for kind answer.

    On 7th May 2016 - 16th May I could not log into ibooks publisher (to publish) and I contacted support; (2) support people sent emails and then I rang their contact number, and with their help I gained access. They had access to my computer to fix the problem, (and asked for it) which did happen and I could then log into ibooks publisher and get my book published.

    I am sure it was all legit. Thanks everyone for coming by to help. You are the heroes of our digital world.

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor May 23, 2016 5:29 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 5:29 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thank you for your valuable information Linc Davis

    Marietheauthor

  • by marietheauthor,

    marietheauthor marietheauthor May 23, 2016 5:31 PM in response to lllaass
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Desktops
    May 23, 2016 5:31 PM in response to lllaass

    Illaass, thank you. That is a great discovery. I noted the link.

    Marie

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. May 24, 2016 3:34 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 7 (30,889 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 24, 2016 3:34 AM in response to marietheauthor

    marietheauthor wrote:

     

    I contacted support; (2) support people sent emails and then I rang their contact number, and with their help I gained access. They had access to my computer to fix the problem, (and asked for it)

     

    This could easily have been scammers, depending on how you contacted them. There are a few key questions, though. Were you charged for this service, and if so, how much? And did the e-mail addresses of those support people end in "@apple.com", or something else?

  • by pinkstones,

    pinkstones pinkstones May 24, 2016 3:41 AM in response to marietheauthor
    Level 5 (4,209 points)
    Safari
    May 24, 2016 3:41 AM in response to marietheauthor

    marietheauthor wrote:

     

    thomas_r thank you for kind answer.

    On 7th May 2016 - 16th May I could not log into ibooks publisher (to publish) and I contacted support; (2) support people sent emails and then I rang their contact number, and with their help I gained access. They had access to my computer to fix the problem, (and asked for it) which did happen and I could then log into ibooks publisher and get my book published.

    I am sure it was all legit. Thanks everyone for coming by to help. You are the heroes of our digital world.

     

    One, you're not on a PC, you're on a Mac.  Two, MacKeeper is a fraudulent piece of nonsense, so please don't put it on your computer.  Three, in referencing the above quoted post, who did you contact?  Was it Apple Support?  If so, where did you go to contact them?  By that I mean, did you go to the Apple website first?  I ask because if you allowed anyone other than official Apple Support access to your computer, there is literally no telling what they could have done to it while they had it in their control.  You saying you are sure it was legit doesn't mean much if it wasn't in fact, legit.