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Original poster

Computer Security - A Warning (Kayleigh, please read)

36 replies

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 11:04

On Saturday, an abusive post against me was posted under Kayleigh's name, and subsequently deleted by Tech. This caused both me and Kayleigh some distress. Mumsnet found that, at the same time, some attempted log-ins under other MNer's names were made on my computer. I have since found that my sister's boyfriend's 7 year old had found a sheet of paper on which I had scribbled down the MN chat names and real names of a couple of MNers who had catted me, and had used those to access MN (which I had left logged on) and post the message.

I am horribly embarrassed by this and want to apologise on his behalf. I am also really cross with myself for having left the computer unattended whilst logged on, particularly with having left names and nicknames lying around.

I just wanted to clear this up, and to remind everyone of the need for security - even when, as I did, you think you are safe! And I really hope that everyone is still speaking to me after this! It might also serve as a reminder to people to change their passwords.

OP posts:

nightowl · 25/11/2004 03:33

my seven year old can barely write let alone type and hack into accounts...is this what kids do now!!!! blimey!

Kayleigh · 24/11/2004 21:47

bumping this up so anyone with their surname as their mumsnet password knows they should change it ....

JJ · 24/11/2004 15:49

(must admit that I have also just now changed my password! )

JJ · 24/11/2004 15:48

I don't know. Mine wouldn't, that's for sure! Just joking. I'd hope my son wouldn't, but I'm not sure he knows just how bad some words are. To him, 'stupid' is worse than the f-word, although he's never used the f-word.. in my hearing, at least.

Didn't see the post, so can't comment directly.

Kayleigh · 24/11/2004 15:48

Hello.

I have only just seen this as the lovely Marina emailed me to tell me about it. I had been staying away today as I was so freaked by yesterdays events.

WigWamBam I am sorry that you are in this situation, but can't tell you how relieved I am that I now know what happened. I was really worried it was someone I knew being deliberately malicious.
I have absolutely no bad feelings towards you whatsoever and am just glad we know who, if not how and why.

And for anyone who was curious, my password was my surname as given to me when I joined mumsnet many moons ago. But I can assure you it isn't now

Tinker · 24/11/2004 15:25

But would a 7-year old use foul language JJ?

JJ · 24/11/2004 15:01

Umm, I think my son would have been able to do it. He doesn't post on chat rooms, but does have his own account on the computer with his own password which he knows how to change. I think I've told him not to use his name as his password, as it's too easy to guess. He's seen me post and would probably know what to do.

If you can, give your sister's boyfriend the benefit of the doubt. It does sound like a childish prank where the boy didn't realize how much distress he'd cause.

(My son's account is restricted and he can't mess up anything on the computer. Also, my husband and I have admin accounts and keep tabs on my son's online activities. Don't want people thinking I'm letting him freely roam around the internet!)

tamum · 24/11/2004 14:56

How horrible, poor you

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:55

The style was childish, the language was foul.

OP posts:

fairyfly · 24/11/2004 14:54

Was the language used in the style of a child or an adult, wont that give you the key

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:49

He's a lovely kid, but then again I've always got on well with his dad, too. I do agree that the likelihood is that it was my sister's boyfriend, although it's a disturbing way for an adult to behave. If he has lied to my sister then I'm not going to get the truth from him, it will have to come from the little boy.

OP posts:

tamum · 24/11/2004 14:42

I have to admit I find this pretty extraordinary. My ds is 10 and pretty computer literate but I can't imagine for one moment that he would have any idea of how to try logging on as different people. It just seems so unlikely that this kid was malicious and devious enough to work out the connection between your list and the mumsnet website, log you off, log on under someone else's username, guess that their password was their surname and then write an abusive post!!????? My money's on your sister's boyfriend I'm afraid, it just seems to me it has to be someone who is used to chatrooms/discussion boards.

ponygirl · 24/11/2004 14:37

I was tempted to say, "probably just 7-year-old high jinks then", but then I don't know what the post was. It was clearly very distressing. Could it have been a/this child's comment?

MrsDoolittle · 24/11/2004 14:23

Ouch WWB. What a horrible situation to be in

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:22

Both of them have always seemed really nice, that's the worrying part.

OP posts:

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:21

I've had major words with my sister over the telephone, and it was her who called me back to tell me that she'd spoken to them and that it was the little boy. She didn't seem to know anything about it until I told her, and I don't know if she has spoken to both of them or just her boyfriend. Luckily I won't have to see the boyfriend or his son for a couple of weeks otherwise things might get unpleasant.

OP posts:

MrsDoolittle · 24/11/2004 14:19

Oh no. Do you like your sisters Boyfriend?

ponygirl · 24/11/2004 14:17

Have you spoken to your sister about it WWB? I'd think he needs a chat about 'netiquette' if it was him. As you say, the alternative is far creepier!

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:14

Ponygirl, yes, that seems to have been the case. As I've said elsewhere, the only other alternative is that it was my sister's boyfriend, which is a far creepier alternative as far as I am concerned. At least a 7 yo has an excuse for being mischievous, but a grown man?

OP posts:

ponygirl · 24/11/2004 14:13

The cross-posts answered my questions!

ponygirl · 24/11/2004 14:11

Just to be clear, did he have their chatnames and use managed to log on because they had used either their chatname or real name as a password?

So sorry this happened to you WWB. It's probably a salutary lesson to all of us, but please don't feel bad. It could have happened to any of us. You and Kayleigh were just unlucky.

Carla · 24/11/2004 14:10

You mean you didn't write you bunch of greasy slappers, FF?

SantaFio2 · 24/11/2004 14:10

he is a very computer literate, i never used chat rooms/forums until i was 22!

Original poster

WigWamBam · 24/11/2004 14:10

Fio, you make me sound like a stalker! I sent out a couple of books to people who had sent me their real names and addresses, I had written down the names on a scrap of paper so I didn't get confused and send the wrong books out. I scribbled down on the same piece of paper a couple of names of MNers who had catted me, because I have a memory like a goldfish. Perhaps I'm strange but that's what I did. I know Kayleigh is lovely and I did post at the time that it was unlike her. I'm sure she's upset - I am, too - but at now least she will know that it wasn't a MNer who did this, and it wasn't anything personal that had led to her name being used, it was just that her password was easy to guess.

OP posts:

pamina3 · 24/11/2004 14:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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