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Question

Does this mean someone is remotely using my pc? User icons..

Oct 23, 2014 6:26AM PDT

My brother set up a user/icon for me on his PC. He works with computers in his job. Every time I go to use the computer the number of user icons changes. He had an administrator acct, a 2nd one with his name, and a 3rd one with my name.

This morning there were 3 accts as described.
Now there are 4 accounts - 2 admin accts now, 1 with his name and my one. At one point there was 1 admin, 2 with his name and my one.

Is he remotely doing something from work? No one has been here in person except me while all these changes happen.

(& he's very controlling - so I'm worried he is monitoring what I am doing. Is that possible? Is there a way I can tell? If I use private Firefox could he see what I am doing? - its nothing bad! I just really don't want him peering over my shoulder!)

Is there some other explanation? Thanks for your help. I've tried Googling but am not sure how to describe it.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
This is still Josie - just wanted to explain
Oct 23, 2014 6:29AM PDT

(sorry I dont' know how to edit)

I am at home on his home computer. He is at work in his office. He set up this user account for me to use while i am here.

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Possible.
Oct 23, 2014 6:45AM PDT

He might have remote access set up. What accounts under your name admin or just user?
Dafydd.

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I am just a user. He is the admin.
Oct 24, 2014 11:02AM PDT

I have one user account.

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Answer
ALWAYS keep a spare admin account.
Oct 23, 2014 6:50AM PDT

It's an old issue with Windows that without a spare admin account you could be locked out. I know folk that remove all but one account and some do that more than one time. Each time they repeat what they did, crash, burn, swear off Windows. Seems easy to avoid.
Bob

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Ok, but why does it change thoughout the day?
Oct 24, 2014 11:15AM PDT

When no one is here but me using my user acct?

Can he add an admin acct from work? Remotely somehow?

Why would someone do that and then change it back later in the day?

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He would set it up
Oct 24, 2014 11:39AM PDT

and have the remote access available the same time each day. The account he'd connect to would be set as admin. I don't know for sure, not going to test it out either, but since he'd have local account and then be connecting remotely as the same account, I suspect it might show the double Admin.

If you are that concerned over it, just download a Linux distro, burn to a DVD, or burn image to a USB flashdrive, and then boot from that instead. It makes a LIVE linux "read only" system. Anything you like though would need to be saved to hard drive, since it is all loaded to a ramdrive. If you like it, order a 16gb flashdrive and make a full install on that, which will be persistent and and allow to save some files to it.

Sounds to me though like your brother is just trying to lookout for your well being, but only you know the score there.

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Accept it.
Oct 24, 2014 11:54AM PDT

I've encountered folk that remove all but one account and then it happens. If you are ready for the complete meltdown, go ahead and don't have a spare admin account. Again, if it bothers you, remove it but be aware that in doing so you may make what is a trivial issue a complete wipe out and reload if the old issue happens.

As to the remove access, ask them.
Bob

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Answer
boot to Safe Mode
Oct 23, 2014 6:59AM PDT

see if a user called Admin suddenly appears.

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Yes, a second "Admin " appears-How do I tell if it is a user
Oct 24, 2014 11:12AM PDT

Yes.

Now that he is home it is back to three icons.
1. Admin
2 Joe (for ex.)
3. Josie

but then when he is at work it changes to
1. Admin
2. Admin
3. Joe (I guess an extra user acct in his name)
4. Josie (my user acct)

so an extra icon named Admin appears
but sometimes an extra icon named "Joe" appears

1. Admin
2. Joe
3. Joe
4. Josie (my user acct)

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sounds like he's doing a remote desktop connection
Oct 24, 2014 11:15AM PDT

to keep an eye on you. How old are you?

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Wouldn't
Oct 24, 2014 11:28AM PDT

an experienced person watching his own computer be able to hide from prying eyes that he's watching?
He probably has a legal right to do it too ...(maybe ?)

My apologies if this is off topic, curiosity got me again....
Digger

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probably
Oct 24, 2014 11:32AM PDT

I used keylogger on my youngest's computer. Got rid of two creeps that were in contact with her. she's older and wiser now.