[twister]

Hi Guys, is there any way to check if your internet activity is been watched remotely.

Thanks

[Hybr!d]

Run a virus/malware scan I guess. Someone can only really watch you if you give them access. Exceptions would be if you are on a work network, then someone can watch at server level.

[twister]

I have norton 360 which runs all kinds of security scans regularly and it doesnt show anything. Its my work laptop which i use at home but i dont think anyone from my work will try to keep a watch on my internet activity and i havent given anykind of access to anyone aswell but i am quiet certain its been watched remotely.

I believe if someone has the IP address then they can browse my web activity, is that correct?

[Luke]

The IP address will change when you leave your work and connect to your home network. Do have a static IP at home? (you would normally pay extra for a static IP from your ISP). If you do not have a static IP address then every time that you connect to the internet at home you would be given a different IP address (first come, first served from a pool of IP addresses) so it would be harder for you to be tracked.

Do you have suspicions of someone using your internet on your laptop or your internet in general? I say this because anybody in range could connect to your wireless network if it is not encrypted/secured properly.

I am an IT administrator for a company and we have an Admin login on laptops etc - this is the most common scenario for workplaces. As Hybr!d said, its possible to be montored at work server-level but as soon as you disconnect from their network they cannot find you unless they know your exact IP at the time.

Norton 360 Should stop any connections coming in to your laptop but if your network is not secure then anyone nearby can use your internet.

When I was younger I used to piggyback on the neighbours internet when my internet was down because their wireless network wasnt pass protected.

[twister]

Originally Posted by Luke

The IP address will change when you leave your work and connect to your home network. Do have a static IP at home? (you would normally pay extra for a static IP from your ISP). If you do not have a static IP address then every time that you connect to the internet at home you would be given a different IP address (first come, first served from a pool of IP addresses) so it would be harder for you to be tracked.

Do you have suspicions of someone using your internet on your laptop or your internet in general? I say this because anybody in range could connect to your wireless network if it is not encrypted/secured properly.

I am an IT administrator for a company and we have an Admin login on laptops etc - this is the most common scenario for workplaces. As Hybr!d said, its possible to be montored at work server-level but as soon as you disconnect from their network they cannot find you unless they know your exact IP at the time.

Norton 360 Should stop any connections coming in to your laptop but if your network is not secure then anyone nearby can use your internet.

When I was younger I used to piggyback on the neighbours internet when my internet was down because their wireless network wasnt pass protected.

Even though its my work laptop i never carry it to my work place. It always stays at home. Yes there is an admin login related to work but its never been used and also my broadband is encrypted with the password so there is no way anyone can use it. Actually my query is regarding how to check if someone is watching your internet activity.

[Razer]

Your net activity is monitored by your ISP, they know the files you download, size, websites you visit..

All in an attempt to stop piracy. It'll start working in 2011 when they start cutting internet access.

[Carbon]

Well, at least here in the US (I don't imagine it's too much different in the UK), they certainly have the capability to do so, but usually won't unless best case subpoenaed, worst case get notice from an outside organization (RIAA and their ilk).

[twister]

But the question still remains how to check if someone is watching your internet activity or not. Is there any kind of software available that can find out....Pls help

[Carbon]

The answer to the question "is someone watching my internet activity" is statistically "no".

If you were using a public Wi-Fi access point & transmitting important financial information like credit card info, even then it would be unlikely (not a good idea, though, because a malicious owner of one of those points could theoretically capture that information).

If you're infected with malware and the malware is designed to do the same thing as the above, that's also technically possible. But that's rather unlikely too - most malware nowadays would rather try to pester you to buy some fake anti-malware software, grab your credit card through there "legitimately" when you pay the ransom, and then charge you. If you post logs as posted in the sticky in this subforum, an anti-malware guy can make sure this isn't the case, but generally if it were, you'd know by now. There are also keyloggers that people can install to track your keystrokes, but that's not really tracking your internet browsing, it's rare, and as above a scan will detect these.

And if none of that is the case (the overwhelmingly likely scenario), suffice to say nobody really has the technical access nor the actual interest in tracking your internet activity. To be honest, even assuming it were easy (it's not), nobody really cares where you go online, as long as it isn't blatantly illegal, in which case your ISP might.

The best way to figure this out isn't through software magic bullets that don't exist, it's through deduction. Why would anybody care about your browsing habits? Do you have important corporate financial documents or a suspicious lover or something? If not, there's not really a real reason to worry.