Computer Security - A Warning (Kayleigh, please read)

[WigWamBam]

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.

Sorry this caused you and Kayleigh some distress WWB. I discovered this myself a while ago and we did have a bit of fun with it until tech masterfully told us off. I'm impressed that a 7 year old worked out what to do though.

am i being thick or unstudious, but why would you write notes about MN?

sorry it caused upset to you both

I write notes about you fio

Personally I have a shoe box full of file cards with everyone's details and peg dollies made in the images of my very best favourites

and kayleigh is so lovely. I bet she is really upset about all this

ff, that is very nice to know

You bunch of greasy slappers

Sorry that wasn't me

I don't understand. How could I for example, post as Fairyfly unless I knew her password?

Me too Milkyway

FF throw your kids some more cheese strings and keep them off your PC please

Perhaps Kayleighs password was her real life name and the little man guessed it correctly.
I hope WWB has mentioned this to the naughty blighter and chastised him.

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.

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

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

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.

The cross-posts answered my questions!

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?

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!

Oh no. Do you like your sisters Boyfriend?

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.

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

Ouch WWB. What a horrible situation to be in

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?

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.