Question
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Topic
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How do I COMPLETELY remove all spyware and set strongest security settings?
LockedI have always been “old school” and preferred to avoid computers whenever possible; so let me start with apologizing for my lack of knowledge, my stupidity for not ever signing up for a computer course and for the length of the explanation below.
Since last November (possibly farther back on an old PC) I have been stalked/harrassed–and I say stalked because I am aware a normal hacker is smart enough to “get in and out” without me knowing—Except for his identity this person has made every attempt to make his presence known leaving dead-end trails of everything he is doing.
1) I need help removing all Spyware, malware, and viruses from my late 2011 Macbook pro, iPhone, and my daughters toshiba notebook and her All-in-1 Gateway PC.
2) I need to know how to prevent this Stalker from gaining access again and how to set highest security on all devices.
I’ve tried the following repeated times and none of them have worked.
I have re-set all devices to factory setting numerous times.
I have purchased Norton and MacAudit, web root, along with multiple other “apps”. I have enabled all security settings from the devices user guides, microsoft security essentials, and have set strongest firewall settings on mac book pro, toshiba notebook, and gateway pc. The Norton software kept changing settings and bypassing –not scanning– “trusted” certificates. Then kicked me out stating I didn’t have administrative rights.
I have taken devices (all bought Nov 2011) back to Apple and Best Buy numerous times. Best Buy has a 14day return policy and the warranty doesn’t cover viruses.
Apple refused to say there was anything wrong–they would just reset the devices and reset my security settings–even when they re-configured my hard drive and the laptop crashed again that same day–they swore Mac’s don’t get viruses….finally after the 4th time the “genius associate” was nice enough to pass me a note with steps to secure my wifi and he whispered I needed to hire “someone” because I had a “serious” issue—but legally all he could do is reset my computer and say nothing was found wrong–then the manager sent him to the “back” and took over the (re-configuring) –he treated me horribly–and rushed me out of the store.
I originally had Time Warner wifi–and they constantly said I didn’t have a problem and all security setting were set properly–they just kept pointing the finger back at Apple. Apple pointed finger at Time Warner.
I hired an IT specialist “house call”. This person basically dismissed me —until he had to fight for control of my laptop (with whoever is stalking me). I could only afford 2hr house call and in that time all that the IT tech was able to find out was that my router was OPEN to the public and he took a log of my laptop and my daughters–but never got back to me with who the person is or how to stop it from continuing–he wanted more money.
I went to the police; after an hour of trying to find out which department they should direct me to they said they didn’t have the resources and it would be like chasing a ghost. They instructed me to contact the FBI. The FBI said because my identity hadn’t been stolen or a specific threat was not placed on my life–it was out of their jurisdiction and I needed to go back to the police.
I decided to move–hoping it would help–it didn’t. Oh..and while I was moving my things from my apartment to the moving truck “someone” broke down my front door and broke the lock (I was only gone 20min). Other than the front door being wide open (when I had locked it) and the Lock completely damaged there was no evidence–and nothing was taken so the police were not able to do anything other than direct me to the FBI again. Of course, FBI directed me right back to police and told me I had to “make” the police do their job—it was a local issue.Below is a small list of things this person has been doing.
1. He continually “fights me” for control of my computer screen and iPhone screen by re-sizing the screen, by changing keyboard shortcut commands, by restricting my access “you don’t have administrative rights”–I’m the only user and some of these folders and or files I was the original creator, then by crashing the laptop/iphone as soon as I am able to regain access…etc.
2. this person went as far to put “his” picture as the owner of one of my email accounts—SO every time I open an email from that account his picture pops up (I doubt its a real pic of him). He repeatedly changes the passwords and recovery info on all of my emails–blocking me from gaining access for weeks at a time)–I’ve had to close and create new accounts multiple times.
3. I happen to bcc myself on an email (using a new email) and when I selected “show all details” of header–there was TWO emails BCC and I didn’t create one of them. This person created a Spring PM account for me –with password and everything—he was able to receive a copy of all of my texts and pictures–shortly after finding out about this email he changed my password to my main Sprint account and had my text messaging removed along with my cellular data–Sprint security said this was above them and I had to go to the Police.
4. I have multiple screen-shots of hidden folders/files some that have dates as far back as 2007?? Again my devices are all brand new from November 2011. –Side note–the hidden files/folders are not the ones that are normally hidden for the protection of the system. I also have multiple screen shots of recent history into apps and folders I had not gone into or modified.
5. He has embedded my ICHAT icons with commands (discovered when I clicked restore to original photo)–I never created a logon for ICHAT and I never tried to use that app—but it was constantly showing up in my recent history.
6. In the history I could see my photos and files dropped into the public folder thru “airdrop?” –even though I put all my settings as private and DO NOT SHARE…
7. He crashed and remotely removed my Lion software (or is it a hard drive?) from my new Mac laptop 4 different times. Despite setting all security settings Apple instructed me to do…he has been able to bypass AND change those settings—oh, and prevent me from changing it back.
8. I continually have to disable the setting for FaceTime and photo booth but keep seeing both apps in my history and files from them being “dropped” into the public folder.This person has invaded my privacy, harassed me, stolen my pictures, my info–all through my mac laptop and my iPhone — I gave up and quit using both devices for awhile hoping this person would get bored and leave me alone—he got worse– when he couldn’t access me through my devices…he went after my daughters toshiba notebook and all in one gateway PC.
I was a quality manager during the day and I Bartend at night so you can imagine the amount of people I come in contact with on a daily basis. I have no idea who is doing this or why; I just want him to leave me and my daughters alone. I’ve learned a lot on my own (online) since this has started but I am still a beginner and just need a credible Step by Step guide on what to do and how to completely remove this person out of all of my devices and keep him out. I do not have the funds to hire another IT Tech or buy new computers. One thing I am doing is….looking into IT classes–Ignorance is definitely NOT BLISS.
I want to thank you for just taking time out of your day to read this HOT mess and I appreciate any help or advice you can give me.