Ask Me Help Desk - Hacking by pornographers

My fiance's computer has child porn pics on it. He claims that he has a comp virus that is slipping them into his comp while he is downloading movies. Is he lying to me? I don't believe he did this. He was genuinely shocked when confronted. Is there a virus out there like that? Comes up with VLC media player and are mpg or mpeg files. Please beware of these.

From my experience with a boyfriend who liked to view porn sites, these "virus" pictures don't just download themselves from movies being downloaded. I download movies all the time and never had that happen to me. When boyfriend lived with me I would keep getting porn crap on my computer. I actually got a swell virus and had to totally reload my op system all over again. I would suggest that you install a good anti virus software and a good internet surfing software on your computer or get a new boyfriend as these nasty virus's don't just mysteriously download themselves onto your machine. I know this from experience. Since boyfriend no longer here and trashing my computer with his sites, I have NEVER had such imbedded crap on my machine again. These viruses create folders on your machine and hide them until you discover them. BF is obviously trying to kid you about his habit.

Another thought about this. What sites does he regularly visit? Look at his history when these pics show up. I've had nasty pics somehow favorite themselves after I visited a "clean" site and looked at an article. Would suggest he get a good surfing software program. Since I got Norton Antivirus I have not gotten any of these nasty surprises. He just may be telling the truth after all. If it still happens after he gets a internet surfing anti virus software then he is fibbing. You can get the software for as little as $17 a year off the net and have the disc mailed to your home.

Also what download program for the movies is he using? Try Shareaza. I've never gotten any nasty stuff from Shareaza. I would get nasty stuff from Kaaza and stopped using them totally.

Did you do a virus scan on his computer? It is possible that the pics might have been slipped in with some other stuff he downloaded, so you might try giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Sounds like the movies (that's what an MPEG is) are showing up in VLC's playlist, so someone or something put them in the playlist and at some time played at least part of them. I'm not aware of any VLC virus that would allow an external source to insert titles into the playlist that haven't actually been viewed. Though it's theoretically possible, I suppose that they piggybacked onto his machine with something else due to some sort of VLC "hack". If there are downloads in a folder on the PC, I might buy that they were automatically downloaded by malware... but if they're in the VLC playlist, that I believe shows they were actually played (someone who knows more about VLC's internals than I do may be able to clarify this).

BTW, be aware that downloading commercial movies for "free" with Kaaza or Shareaza is against the law... I'm sure he was just downloading home movies, yes? ;) In general if he tries to get around the law and download stuff from shady sources, he's asking for trouble.

If you decide to stay with him and have children or are planning on having children, I'd certainly take this incident seriously. I personally think he's not being totally truthful with you about what he's been downloading, and you need to factor this incident into your decision to stay with him (especially if you have kids you're bringing into the marriage or plan on having kids). The stakes are high, and child porn movies "mysteriously" appearing on his PC is no laughing matter.

Vasily

Thanks for the help guys! His downloading sites are bitcomet and torrent. Are they known for piggyback files?

The problem isn't with BitComet or BitTorrent, it's with the persons who provided the videos. Sometimes, for example, you have to go to the providers site to download a key, or when you run the installer it may include adware for porn etc. Here's an Ars Technica post that talks about the problem. This eWeek article says Bittorrent is "overwhelmed" with media files containing spyware.

How to keep yourself safe? Principally, don't download anything illegal. Be sure to run antivirus software (AVG Free is good), and Windows Update weekly. Run AdAware Free and Spybot Search & Destroy weekly. Don't run an installer until you've scanned it with your antivirus software. Don't use known problem bittorrent clients, like Bitroll, Torrent101, or TorrentQ (BitComet should be fine).

Vasily

Quote:

Originally Posted by airbats-goku

Thanks for the help guys! His downloading sites are bitcomet and torrent. Are they known for piggyback files?

While vingogly is right, what those sites generally have is pirated material. Your fiancé is stealing. Almost all movies are protected by copyright. If he's downloading current movies without paying for them hemay find himself being sued.