14 replies to this topic

[dgh]

Hi.

I just bought a used laptop. The guy who sold it to me, I just found out, is a big computer guru. He's a programmer, and on top of that, I think he cracks software applications as well.. I simply bought the laptop because it was a great price, and he had an ad up for it. I really didn't know this stuff about him before now.

Now I'm starting to get a little worried about the laptop I bought. He says he formatted it with the recovery CD belonging to the laptop brand, and when I turned it on for the first time, that Windows Vista introduction even started up.. From what I can see in C:\program files , he hasn't left any programs there. BUT, I'm starting to think, what if he has hidden some programs that track my activity or something similar. I always use my PCs for very sensitive information: I use banking, I buy stocks, etc... Very private information.

What is your suggestion that I do? The guy I bought the laptop from gave me the recovery CD from the laptop, so I can basically reformat it again and install with the recovery -- but a friend of mine who knows about computers said that it is, in theory, possible that the guy I bought it from made a protected partition on the hard disk that stays there when the computer is formatted, sending information of my usage at random intervals from the computer.

Or is it just enough if I install a freeware firewall, such as Comodo firewall? Will that detect ANYTHING that tries to connect to the internet, so I can choose to block it? In this case I can only allow the programs I know to connect to the internet.

Lastly, could the guy I bought it from maybe have modified something in the BIOS that isnt detectable by firewall when it sends information to the internet?

What is theoretically possible? Is there a way I can be 100% sure that the used laptop I bought is NOT filled with something cleverly designed to break my privacy and to send sensitive information to someone?

I'm not the smartest when it comes to computers, and I know nothing about programming, so maybe you guys can tell me if something like that is even POSSIBLE, or maybe its not and I can just relax and use the laptop for banking/transactions/private stuff... what should I do?

[Egz0N]

try deleting all partitions of the HDD .. and then create them again .. then format the disk but dont use the Recovery CD he gave to you but buy another one ..after installing the windows ..dont use free firewalls .. use a good anti-virus software ..

[dgh]

I have a good, paid-for, antivirus

but why no free firewall? wouldn't that be good so I can see what software on the laptop tries to connect to the internet?

And the solution you gave me means I have to buy another windows license which is expensive..

[Egz0N]

why not try a paid firewall ..?! .. much more secure that the free one :s

[dgh]

but can a good software firewall detect EVERYTHING that tries to connect to the internet from the computer?

Or are there programs that can go through to the internet without the firewall asking if to block or allow.

I know it also depends on the settings I set in the firewall.. But if I set the settings to the highest security and all.

[Egz0N]

i dont say that a free firewall cant detect anything .. but i say that a paid firewall is much more secure than a free one .. you have to choose .. if you want to be much more secured try a paid one .. or use that paid antivirus and a free firewall ..

[Egz0N]

yep .. if you install XP SP2 .. but i think you said that you were using Vista :s

[amrosama]

Even if you are just running an exe it asks if you are "sure" and "run it as admin?"