Help! Admin Password was changed!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter Seth Y.
  • Start date Start date
S

Seth Y.

I think my computer was hacked, perhaps by a wireless neighbor or
vehicle parked outside. Anyway, I no longer have authority to do just
about anything. The administrator had a password added and I don't know
it. I'm running XP home and DON'T have a disk.

How can I get the authority to remove an "intranet" connection that was
added by someone unknown (or a virus?). I only want basic Internet
service, no intrAnet at all.
I'm really very limited in my computer knowledge, so please keep the
answers in simple english. Thanks in advance!

Seth
 
Seth said:
I think my computer was hacked, perhaps by a wireless neighbor or
vehicle parked outside. Anyway, I no longer have authority to do just
about anything. The administrator had a password added and I don't
know it. I'm running XP home and DON'T have a disk.

How can I get the authority to remove an "intranet" connection that
was added by someone unknown (or a virus?). I only want basic Internet
service, no intrAnet at all.
I'm really very limited in my computer knowledge, so please keep the
answers in simple english. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

Since you've said your computer knowledge is limited (and it's a wise
man who knows his limitations), take the computer to a professional
computer repair shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA) or have
the pro come to you since your wireless network is obviously not set up
correctly.

Your other choices are:

1. Change the Administrator password back to a blank with NTpasswd.
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Then log in and completely clean your computer of all malware:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

In cases where a computer has really been hacked, a format/clean-install
is a better solution since only a professional will be able to
determine if you've removed the backdoor.

2. Back up your data and use your Recovery Disk (or recovery method
provided by the computer mftr.) to restore your computer to factory
condition. Then do not go online until it is properly protected with a
firewall, antivirus, and Service Pack 2 (if SP2 wasn't included in the
original installation). Set your wireless connection up to be secure.

Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html
MVP Barb Bowman on wireless security - http://tinyurl.com/56fc5

Malke
 
Back
Top