HELP TO UN-HACK MY MINI

[trainstamp]

In trying to locate the forgotten password for my AOL instant messaging account, I discovered that my MacMini has been hacked. I called AOL for help in obtaining my password and in trying to help me, they discovered the hacking. To make matters worse, they wanted to charge me $200.00 to un-hack it, which I wasn't about to pay.

As it stands now, the computer seems to be fully functional but I have turned it off and am not using it until I find a way to fix it. Meanwhile I am checking my critical accounts to be sure that they are not being pirated. My MacMini is no longer my main computer as I have a great, newer MacBook and a PC that I use, but I would appreciate some help from this forum from a knowledgeable person, so that I can restore this faithful little compter. Many thanks.

[Bandit Bill]

You don't provide any detail as to how you identified that your computer has been hacked so it's impossible to recommend a specific solution.

If you are truly concerned, restore the system from the system disks that came with the computer. Yes you will lose everything, but it sounds like you don't have much to lose.

For the benefit of those reading this thread that may be concerned, it's extremely unlikely that your Mac was hacked, unless someone has physical access to it. It is however possible that by your own doing, that malicious software, spyware etc. was installed.

In the future, ensure you run software update, it's set to check for updates once per week (every day with Mountain Lion). Only download apps from Apple's app store or reputable sources. Never click on a link that offers to update Adobe Flash Player etc. get your plugin updates ie. flash player from Apple or Adobe's website etc.

[trainstamp]

I provided all the info that I have and said that the hacking was identified by an AOL tech, beyond this I have no idea of what happened. This is why I have posted to this group for some help in fixing my computer. Sorry I can't be of more help but I am not computer savey. The only clue that I have is that there is a black warning rectangle in the dock on this computer that never used to be there.

[billb]

Sorry to hear about your bad luck TrainStamp.
I had a Yahoo account hacked a while back. I
rarely used it and neglected to maintain a BIG
STRONG Password. I was able to keep out the
hackers buy simply changing my Password to
a better one. If you still have control of your
account, changing the Password may be all that
is necessary.

What does AOL say?
_________________
2011 Mac mini 2.7 GHz i7 with
16GB RAM, Samsung 512GB SSD
MacBook AIR 11 Inch
Mac mini, Model 1.1, 2.33 GHz C2D Proc
20" iMac G4 PPC

[trainstamp]

Thanks for the post. AOL wasn't much help. They said they could fix it for $200. Since then I have surfed the web and found out that there are a couple of softwares that might be able to idendify the malware but I am afraid to go back on line with my mini for fear that during the download time someone could get more of my info, if they haven't done that already. So far none of my critical info has been tapped into. I would greatly appreciate any and all suggestions about this.

I'm wondering if there is a way to download software from another Mac onto a memory stick and then feed it into my Mini. If this would work, I could keep the Mini off-line. Comments????

[billb]

Log into your AOL account and change your
Password to a very strong one. What I do
is create a Password for a web site then I
take a Screen Shot of the filled out Password
Window. Then I title that screen shot for
that web site and drag that capture to my
Documents Folder. That way if I forget a
Password its in my Documents Folder but
isn't recorded anywhere that is hackable.
Nothing indicates its a Password but I
know it is. Their isn't one location with
all of my Passwords. Their all spread out
in my Documents folder. I know where
they are but..........I think you understand.

Creating a stronger Password for AOL should
work. You might also download an App. called
Little Snitch. I think its available from the
App. Store. It won't allow any thing to access
the Internet without your permission. You'll
be surprised how many App's have been
calling home behind your back. Because of
the App.Store its much less but many App's
still do it.

The Application I use for the Screen Shot is
called "Grab" and its located in Your Utilities
Folder which is located in your Applications
Folder. When you use Grab you can capture
a portion of the screen called a Selection. You
simply drag around your Selection. When you
launch Grab click on "Capture" in your Menu
Bar. Thats the strip that runs along the top
of your Desktop. Then Drag around whatever
you want to capture and then Name it and Save
it. Set it up to Save to your Documents Folder
and your all set.

This way you don't use the same password
for all sites and its easy to retrieve.
_________________
2011 Mac mini 2.7 GHz i7 with
16GB RAM, Samsung 512GB SSD
MacBook AIR 11 Inch
Mac mini, Model 1.1, 2.33 GHz C2D Proc
20" iMac G4 PPC

[trainstamp]

Many thanks for your help. It will take me a while to wrap my brain around all of this but it sounds like it would work. That is, if I can get back into AOL. I am bad about remembering passwords. I am in the process of making up a notebook just for passwords but I like your idea of using "grab" to do this also.

Another question I have is, how do I get rid of the malware???

[billb]

Changing your password is just step one.

Step Two, Google and download ClamXav.
Their is a similar App. but you want ClamXav.
RUN IT.

Step three, Google and download Sophos
Anti-Virus. RUN IT.

You should be fine. Run them once a week
and only let App's you know and trust access
the web using Little Snitch.

ClamXav and Sophos will find anything that
is known to be unfriendly.

You'll be alright and FUCK AOL!!!!!!!
Switch all of your Accounts to Gmail
and don't look back.
_________________
2011 Mac mini 2.7 GHz i7 with
16GB RAM, Samsung 512GB SSD
MacBook AIR 11 Inch
Mac mini, Model 1.1, 2.33 GHz C2D Proc
20" iMac G4 PPC

[trainstamp]

Hey thanks again. The reason I use AOL is that I web cam with my daughter and son that life in Denver. I'm in Vermont. To show you how lousy I am with computers, it took me the better part of six months to set that up with my iSight camera. What a great thing that is. It's almost as good as being in the same room with my kids and grandchildren. Previous to this, I tried webcaming with Skype on my PC and it was terrible.

[billb]

Mountain Lion has a native App.
called FaceTime. I would bet money
it works better and is easier to use
than AOL.

And DON'T tell me you don't have
Mountain Lion. Its @#%&* $19.95.

Get with it man!!!
_________________
2011 Mac mini 2.7 GHz i7 with
16GB RAM, Samsung 512GB SSD
MacBook AIR 11 Inch
Mac mini, Model 1.1, 2.33 GHz C2D Proc
20" iMac G4 PPC

[trainstamp]

Sorry to disappoint you but my faithful old Mini was built back in 2005 and can't be expanded anymore or OS updated. I have to live with it like it is. Even today it beats my PC hands down. I do have a Macbook with Snow Leopard but that won't help the Mini.

[macmanmacman]

Question do you have microsoft office installed on the mac mini if so you got hacked through the backdoor exploit found in microsoft office this exploit is in 2004 and the 2011 version of office.

Now if you got a piece of malware you got the scammer malware on your mac mini which steals your passwords and user names this malware was suppose to be detected by a detection tool distrubuted by the fbi after the date of june 1 this malware is suppose to denied access to your accounts and random changes your accounts you where suppose to remove it before the 1 st if you didn't you need to now replace your hard drive because it is a worm and cannot be just formatted and removed you have to replace the hard drive itself.

[trainstamp]

How can I confirm that a worm has infected this computer?

[macmanmacman]

You can't The worm that has been installed if there has been one will just not allow you to connect to anything on the internet and my best recommendation is too format and zero the drive and start again you also kinda got what was coming your way and it's not your fault.

See aol has always been a most insecure piece of junk software that's why people where able to change there sound effects and hack the app to do things it wouldn't normally due i.e stealing account information being one of them also think about it why is aol charging 200.00 for a unhack because they are currently looking for money badly because they are no longer apart of time warner so they are getting desperate for money and worse your account could just be hacked again.

Update to a better messenger service

[billb]

I told ya' install "Little Snitch". It won't allow
ANYTHING to connect to the Internet without
your knowledge and permission. You probably
want version 2.5 because your mini has an older
OS on it.

DO IT NOW!!!!!!!
_________________
2011 Mac mini 2.7 GHz i7 with
16GB RAM, Samsung 512GB SSD
MacBook AIR 11 Inch
Mac mini, Model 1.1, 2.33 GHz C2D Proc
20" iMac G4 PPC