I am computer stupid. Yeah--I can blog like nobody's business, but I don't know much about this blogging machine that is my computer outside that. WELL tonight I was checking my Bravenet Counter Referrers list when I noticed a weird url address. I clicked on it and SHUT. THE. BACK. DOOR.......it was my email account. Except entered into via MSN hotmail. Which I never, never, never do. So I've got McAfee and Norton and a few other spam/ firewall thingies that do their jobs really well---but what can I do to make sure that there aren't crazy people hacking into my private mail?!?! Could they even have read anything while they were there?! How could they have gotten there without my password?! I have decided in the past not to change my name, or the name of my blog, or even my children's names (going into the "blogger witness protection program" as I like to call it), but I am about THIS CLOSE to packing up my blog and going private. You guys have never let me down before, so I have only one plea: HHHHHEEEEEEELLLLLLLPPPPP MMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***footnoting once again: Just spent an hour on the phone with Indian tech support. Lots of changing user names and passwords on EVERYTHING---we'll see what that does. Though keep giving me advice if you have it!
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26 comments:
and to my sweet Peterson family--I know there are a few of you nodding your heads and saying "we told you so"....
but, SEE--just like I told you I would be able to KNOW if there was any funny business going on.
Love me anyway. And hope you don't find me bludgened to death by my keyboard in the morning.
Bugger!!
It is a pain when you have to be so paranoid, isn't it.
My family, and some of my friends are very sceptical/negative about the whole blogging thing.
It is interesting to see who is looking or reading your blog - I have lots of trackers etc too. Mmmmm... what to do?
If it is freaky, definitely go private and don't leave yourself open.
xxx
I wish I could make you feel better about the situation and give you some computer speak that put you at ease, but I am pretty clueless on the whole thing as well. I often pop on here and read because I draw a little inspiration from you and how well you are handling what was handed to you, but I rarely comment. I stumbled upon your blog from a link on another blog. I probably would not be part your private blog world, but I think you need to do what is best for you and what makes you feel most secure. I hope you get the answers you need.
Oh sheez Jennifer! I have no idea but that just doesn't seem right....and I have no idea how to help you. So sorry.
Sorry, I don't know how that could happen..wish I did so I could fix it for you. I love your blog and would miss it if you went private, but that being said, I totally understand and would not blame you one bit! You have to take care of your family first. But let me offer up a bit of hope..Ps 91:11--this is my favorite protection chapter in the Bible, but verse 11 is my favorite protection verse. He sends angels to protect us in ALL (including internet) ways!
Oh, and the part about you being found bludgeoned to death by your keyboard..SO NOT FUNNY.
I hope someone can help you fix it!
By the way, thanks for mentioning Bravenet...I just downloaded their stats counter and it is WAY easier to use than sitemeter! Lots better too!
I am so not computer savvy...but my engineering hubby is. Sort of. So, I sent him to your blog to look at your post and offer a solution. Here is his email:
I would need more information.
I assume that she has a hotmail account (or Microsoft Live! email) which she normally uses Microsoft Outlook to read, based on her comments.
Also, I'm pretty sure that you couldn't use Hotmail to view other (non-Hotmail) accounts anyway.
I'm not knowledgeable about the specifics of setting up Hotmail or using the counter referrers list, but my guess of what happened is that she is seeing a url from herself.
To set up Outlook (or Outlook Express, or Thunderbird) to read Hotmail email, you'd have to supply a url to get the email. (This can be done automatically when you set up Hotmail, so it wouldn't necessarily be done manually). The computer "knows" to go there to retrieve email. She could have gone to her blog from her email, and this may have showed up as the url she saw. Since she is on her own computer, she may not be required to enter a password (unlike if she were to log in from another computer).
Since I'm not very knowledgeable about setting up Hotmail (assuming this is who she uses for email), I wouldn't be able to verify that. If her counter referrers list gives IP addresses for each person going to her blog, she could see if the IP for the link matches hers (which would confirm the viewer of her blog was her PC)... but she's probably not technically savvy enough to check this out anyway.
I know her original question was how does she make sure no one is lurking around in her email. That would be difficult to tell. BUT if someone were to hack in and somehow find her password, it would be very unlikely that they would use MSN Hotmail to view her email; a hacker would go in through POP3 access (since that is an option with Hotmail) so as not leave any tracks. Keeping firewalls, spam, and virus protection up-to-date certainly minimizes her risk—and makes it less likely that what she noticed was an intruder reading her email.
If she knew a Jeff Cox–like computer geek, they could sit down at her PC and figure out what is exactly she saw. I know a lot of this may sound like Greek to you... but it really sounds like what she most likely saw was herself manifested at the url that led to her email account.
I hope that helps...
Chris said he would help you out if you need him to. Check out the URL and stuff. Let me know and I will get you in touch with him. He's a pretty smart computer person.
I know nothing about computers and the internet, except what I do on my own page...which isn't much. It took me months to figure out how to cut and paste HTML thingys into my sidebars. So sad, I know.
Kat,
That IS a little Greek to me---but I'm going to turn my brain on and read it all one more time. THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. KAT!!!
Wow! This is all soooo over my head, wish I could help. I'll be so sad if you go private...that's so selfish of me, I know :( Wish I could help in some great way. Sounds like Mr. Kat is the one to talk to :)
I have no clue how to solve the problem...but yikes, that is NOT GOOD if someone is able to hack into your account. Eeek!
~ Sarah
Why do we women just not get computer things? I don't! I'm still going to ask people I know who DO know...we'll see where this goes...
Jennifer, my hubby could help you too. He's a genius. If you want to go private. I understand. But you better include me on that!
That is so scary and so bad that we have to be so careful cause there are so many weird people out there. So sorry about more issues, but lots of good advice given, things that I am going to try/use.
that stinks, but I don't have any answers for you.
yes, oil rubbed bronze door knobs with a rectangular back plate!!! Oh it makes me giddy!
As the previous comment said, it does stink! I've been following here for a few weeks now and am so inspired by how you are living your life with your faith strong and intact. I wish you the best dealing with this. If you go private, I will miss you but I understand that you must do what is best for you and your boys. Blessings!
SHUT.THE.BACK.DOOR.
That is my new FAVORITE.SAYING.
You know I am in the blogger protection program and it was a hassle.. but, my ratings are all back up after a few weeks. I have no idea how to help you, but I'll love you through this!
Thank you, thank you all for your understanding. I think I've got everything squared away safely for now. I'm going to keep my eyes on things pretty closesly for a while. Hopefully I won't need to go private. BUT--if I do--you're all invited :).
Creep-e. All I can say is if you go private...I BETTER get an invite. I can't quit you.
I've been meaning to tell you that I added you to my faves. I love popping by here for a good read. :-)
Jennifer....this is creepy. It sounds like you have it under control...but still...I will pray a prayer of protection over you.
Hey J -
My stat counter does that if someone links to my blog from an email I sent them.
Perhaps your blog address was in your email to someone and they clicked the link?
This is WAY over my head, yet now looming in it at the same time...like do I NEED to do something too!?!? UGH!
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