Help me detect spyware/keylogger programs?

Can someone help look over my Activity Monitor (photos attached below) for any irregularities?


User uploaded fileUser uploaded file

MacBook Air, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 3, 2012 12:16 PM

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6 replies

Dec 3, 2012 4:18 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks for the help!


I gave my ex full access to my mac when we were together and since then he has mentioned certain things on several separate occasions that he could only have known if he had up to date access to my files, emails, web activity, etc. From weird quincidences to questioning me about very specific things related to personal documents, email and facebook archive I recently transferred to this mac and icloud.


I tried MacScan but nothing, any suggestions hugely appreciated

Dec 3, 2012 4:42 PM in response to Elisabeth12

"MacScan" is useless.


There's more than one way in which someone who had access to your user account could be spying on you. He could, for example, have the passwords to your online accounts -- all of them. If you haven't already done so, you should change those passwords. Don't use the same password for more than one account, and don't use any that could be guessed.


It's unlikely that you have spyware, but if you do, it wouldn't necessarily be detectable from the information you've provided. Depending on how sophisticated the attack is, it may be practically impossible to detect. If you really suspect this has happened, you should make at least two complete backups of all your data, then erase your hard drive, reinstall OS X, and restore only your documents and settings from one of the backups. Reinstall all third-party software from fresh copies. It will be a big nuisance, but that's what it takes if you really want to be sure.


A highly motivated attacker could have taken extreme measures such as planting a listening device in your home, your car, or your landline phone. That's a longshot, but you can't rule it out.


I might add that if you're concerned about privacy, as you should be, you should remove the photo from your profile (assuming it's really you.) Apple recently added a confusing message to the editing dialog on this site that leads some people to think that they must post a picture of themselves in order to post. That isn't true. Your photo is a bit provocative and won't get you any of the right kind of attention.

Dec 3, 2012 4:47 PM in response to Elisabeth12

A suggestion going along with Linc is that you cpnsider 1Password or a similar tool. This will allow you to set up strong passwords for all of your account which will be maintained in the encrypted database. So all that you need is one password to enter the database for all of the passwords to all of you accounts.


In this way you can protect yourself from prying eyes.


Allan

Dec 3, 2012 5:39 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you very much! He did have the passwords to my facebook and blackberry, also my email pass was saved (autofill) to his mac, so I had already changed them.


I feel positive he has some form of access to my files, especially to my chats and appointments/itineraries that I pin all to my calendar and receive by email. I'll go ahead and clear everything out, it's definitley worth it to me.


I've moved house since we were together and I live between new york and paris and travel so if he did go to such lengths it's not the source, and I don't drive/use a car, also I don't use my landline at all.


Thanks for the tip, I removed it.

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Help me detect spyware/keylogger programs?

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