Having a hacker over, risks?
 

A hacker friend has invited himself into my summer house. He asks if he can stay for a week. Since I am a bit paranoid and he isn't very clear cut morally I'm a bit worried that he will hack in to my computer. I have valuable information on my computer that I don't want him to take part of. So I'm asking you guys what risks might be associated with having him over for a week. He is very smart and knows amazingly lot about computers.

The network setup would look like this:

...............Internet........................... ........
...................|.............................. ........
........______router/modem________........................
...........|...................|.................. ........
...his computer...........another router (Linksys WRT54GS)
...............................|.................. ........
..........................my computer.....................

Would he be able to hack in to my computer and get hold of valuable information?

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

It depends on how good he is and how secure your boxes are. I'd be more worried about him being in the house with my computer if I'm away. Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
It depends on how good he is and how secure your boxes are. I'd be more worried about him being in the house with my computer if I'm away. Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]

All I have on the boxes themselves for protection is AVG antivirus and SnnopIt. Plus Ad-Aware and Spybot, but they don't protect in real time.

He won't have any physical access to the computers. I have a very secure work and study area that I keep locked when I'm not there

I'd like to be able to keep it on when I'm not there. Although it is not all that important. BIOS password you say, I'll make a search on that.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

Simple answer yes, you're machines are in danger. Do not let him in your house OR turn off your computer, unplug it and put it in the attic.lol Seriously, if this guy is a real hacker and has no morals...well I wouldn't let him in my house, but that is another story. But if this guy is good he can own you machines. Then again, if he's good he can do it today from where ever he's at by getting you to click a certain link, open a certain attachment etc.

Even if you use something like TrueCrpyt and encrypt all of your important data in vaults that cannot be cracked, he can still find away to install a keylogger and get your passwords. This guy does not need physical access to your machines but it just makes it easier if he really wants to do something.

My question is, how does a hacker, who has no morals and you don't trust, end up inviting himself to come stay with you and you don't say no? That is the weirdest part of the story to me.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

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My question is, how does a hacker, who has no morals and you don't trust, end up inviting himself to come stay with you and you don't say no? That is the weirdest part of the story to me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. I do trust him pretty much though. This is more paranoia than anything. You know, nothing is for sure. I'd say the probability he will want to hack my computer is way lower than 1%, but still, that makes me cringe. Buhu...

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

My computer hint for day:

Anyone who has prob(hacking you) > 0 should not be welcome in your house.

Does this really need to be said?

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
the probability he will want to hack my computer is way lower than 1%, but still, that makes me cringe.

[/ QUOTE ]
My friends don't make me cringe. Just sayin'.
-Sam

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

Just tell him: "If I see you using my computer or accessing it I'm throwing you out immediately and never speaking to you again..."

I mean
[ QUOTE ]
My friends don't make me cringe. Just sayin'.
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. Seriously.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

This sounds more like OP paranoia than any actual risk. Most people who are "very smart and knows amazingly lot about computers" generally talk more about what they could do rather than what they have actually done.

Tell your friend you're worried. He should take it as a huge ego boost and wouldn't bother your [censored]. If he flips out and goes off on you for not trusting him, he was probably planning on hacking your gibson.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

OP,

If you want to know the risks, just turn off your firewall and real-time virus and spyware protection for a day while leaving your computer on and connected to the net.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

If he is old school there is a pretty non-zero chance he knows how to get around your locks. Lots of the original hackers, back when it meant something, started out picking locks. He could have read Levy's book and picked that skill up as well.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]

If he flips out and goes off on you for not trusting him, he was probably planning on hacking your gibson.

[/ QUOTE ]

I lol'd.

OP, be very worried if your filesystem looks like this...

http://www.nicolas-guillard.com/cybe...kers_small.jpg

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
he was probably planning on hacking your gibson.

[/ QUOTE ]

A+

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]

...............Internet........................... ........
...................|.............................. ........
........______router/modem________........................
...........|...................|.................. ........
...his computer...........another router (Linksys WRT54GS)
...............................<font color="red">|</font>..........................
..........................my computer.....................

Would he be able to hack in to my computer and get hold of valuable information?

[/ QUOTE ]

That bit highlighted in red, it unplugs you know....

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why answer this question if you know nothing about computers? Removing any BIOS password is trivial.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]

Anyone who has prob(hacking you) &gt; 0 should not be welcome in your house.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is the correct answer. Don't give anyone you don't trust access to your network. Unnecessary risk.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

theres a bunch of 0day floating around so yea or he can just compromise your routers since hes got physical access to those.

based on your previous posts, you seem like a really paranoid person. just relax, nothings going to happen

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why answer this question if you know nothing about computers? Removing any BIOS password is trivial.

[/ QUOTE ]

[censored] off. Why even keep the computer in the house? It's trival to van eck freak the computer too. If you are going to turn it off you may as well take the hard drive too, that's where the good stuff is.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why answer this question if you know nothing about computers? Removing any BIOS password is trivial.

[/ QUOTE ]

[censored] off. Why even keep the computer in the house? It's trival to van eck freak the computer too. If you are going to turn it off you may as well take the hard drive too, that's where the good stuff is.

[/ QUOTE ]

doesn't that only work for CRTs?

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why answer this question if you know nothing about computers? Removing any BIOS password is trivial.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol thats harsh

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

this is like asking, "I have a whole of cash sitting in my house. My friend is a thief and known to steal cash. Should I invite him into my house and have him stay for a week?"


If he wants at the cash, realistically you're not likely to be able to make it 100% secure. So balance the risk and possible loss that your "friend"* can cause, with the fun and benefit of having your "friend" around.

it's not complex thinking.

*who the [censored] has friends like this anyway?

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]
Why answer this question if you know nothing about computers? Removing any BIOS password is trivial.

[/ QUOTE ]

[censored] off. Why even keep the computer in the house? It's trival to van eck freak the computer too. If you are going to turn it off you may as well take the hard drive too, that's where the good stuff is.

[/ QUOTE ]

doesn't that only work for CRTs?

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The signal is different but there is still a signal. I think they can do keylogging with it reading the keyboard but I might be making that up...

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

Be careful.. you can even get external keyloggers so he could log your passwords without even having to turn your PC on.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Just tell him: "If I see you using my computer or accessing it I'm throwing you out immediately and never speaking to you again..."

I mean
[ QUOTE ]
My friends don't make me cringe. Just sayin'.
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. Seriously.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/7...616281lal0.jpg

Not just a little bit?

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Just tell him: "If I see you using my computer or accessing it I'm throwing you out immediately and never speaking to you again..."

I mean
[ QUOTE ]
My friends don't make me cringe. Just sayin'.
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. Seriously.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/7...616281lal0.jpg

Not just a little bit?

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Just tell him: "If I see you using my computer or accessing it I'm throwing you out immediately and never speaking to you again..."

I mean
[ QUOTE ]
My friends don't make me cringe. Just sayin'.
-Sam

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT. Seriously.

[/ QUOTE ]

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/7...616281lal0.jpg

Not just a little bit?

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO. I hadn't seen this picture prior to becoming friends... I may have changed my mind otherwise.... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

lol i totally missed this post

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

If he is any good, and has physical access to your computer, he can reset your administrator password in about 3 minutes with a bootable CD. This won't give hime access to encrypted files (you need the password of the owner of the file for that) but will for anything else.

Re: Having a hacker over, risks?
 

[ QUOTE ]
It depends on how good he is and how secure your boxes are. I'd be more worried about him being in the house with my computer if I'm away. Best bet is to put a bios password on it and keep it turned off when you aren't there.

[/ QUOTE ]

Which means he has to open the case to reset the BIOS password. If he has physical access to your computer, he can get inyo it.