Computer privacy question(s):

[Eski]

Ok..

This may be nubish to some people; But i'd like some questions answered.

Im very paranoid about my family, Not in general. But my parents are very nosy. Over the last couple of years they've made little random comments of information they wouldnt/shouldnt know stuff about in gaming life; who I talk to etc.

Numerous times I've found my History bar open in my browser opened when I get home from work so I set a password on my computer and would log out every day. Well, They have yet made another comment even about my user password that I had set onto my computer (I was the admin). The comment was indead my password.

My questions is about networks. All the internet in the house is from one router, Is there a way they can enter my computer at any time or see the information on the computer through the network? I've searched through my shared files just now and saw something very disturbing but I am not sure if it is always there or if it was put there by my brother.

Here is the directory I had

C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Documents/My music

Ok in this file, I've always seen just 3 files:

1) My playlist
2) Sample Music
3) Sample Playlist

But, there is a 4th. I have never seen this one before and it is disturbing what is in it; It has access to all of my music/Pictures/Recent downloads Its called "Sync Playlists". Again, I've never seen this and I may just be paranoid.

I deleted all the contents in it in hopes it wasnt shared between the network for anyone to see it that is on the same network. Was this ment to be there? I was under the impression that only things you manually put into that file space does it go in there; not automatically.

Here is what Im also asking; Is there a way to truely keep them out of my computer and out of my business?

Im 18, so I have the right to have my privacy, I know someone is going to say "You live under their room they have the right to see whatever you have" but they really dont.

Again, the whole Sync Playlist thing may just be my parania but I do know they've done their fair share of snooping and im sick and tired of it; any help is much appreciated.

~Yasha

[R4mbo | Mr. R]

Use Firewall and AntiVirus as basic security against hackerstuff, also it is possible that they installed a keylogger on your system. Use this: Amic Tools - Anti Keylogger Shield to block such software.
Setup a bios password (to get into Bios you normally have to press DEL, or F2 or something, is shown at bootup (enter setup (or something))). To get around the bios password they have to remove the battery of your mainboard. The password will be gone then, and you will recognized it has gone and someone was on your PC. To crack the bios password they must run software on your pc, to do this, they must boot it up which isnt possible without the bios password, so make sure your PC is always turned off when you leave your room.

Ah, if you're sure that your parents sniff around too much just get angry and tell them that there is something like "privacy" and they should care about themselfes instead of watching what other people do. Tell them to get a life.

[Eski]

Thanks; I'll post more to you guys later today Im on a tight schedule.

[X-Root]

You need to encrypt your harddrive 100% .

If i was your father and wanted to look what you had i could log in at windows
with no problems, or i could just run a live cd in your computer and look at your files.

However, if you had your harddisk encrypted, and hardware fixed, then i wouldn't
have much of a chance to know what you might have on your computer.

A quick solution to your problems are:
1. When your computer boots up, set a password for your BIOS.
2. Then choose in your BIOS, that your computer wont start without typing in the password.
3. Done, it's fairly simple and you can enter most BIOS's with the F2, DEL or F12 keys. (sometimes others).

By doing just this very little change, he wont be able to use your computer locally.
Then the next problems are shares. Disable all network sharing, install Zonealarm from zonealarm.com,
and choose the localhost internet to ACT AS IF you WERE on the internet.

This will disable you to use your home network, but you will be allowed to get on the internet.

On the other hand, the only option your father will have is now to take your harddisk out of your computer
and look at it on another computer if you didn't hardware fix it so it only works with your computer ;P

That's the best options you have.