Why Would I Get an Email Saying Someone Signed into my Account?
I received an email saying someone signed into my account with a totally different email address than I actually have for primary through Google. This was at a time when I wasn't even near my computer. And this is the real twist. There is a nickname for my stepson above his picture besides. He also wasn't near my computer and lives 5 or 6 miles from us. He has a laptop with WIFI. I have direct connection. I have already changed my major passwords and disconnected the wrong email from my own email account. Then another really strange thing happened. A Google + page opened into my stepson's profile but with MY new email address I had signed up for Tuesday night at the top of the page with an arrow that will open all of my accounts with them. After I disconnected the wrong email with mine, a new window opened with my own profile and right email address at the top. What I am wondering is if I should be concerned. A copy of the email, except for the picture, is below.
Hi Will, Your Google Account theartlady1029@gmail.com was just used to sign in from Firefox on Windows. Will Anderson theartlady1029@gmail.com
Windows Tuesday, May 26, 2015 8:04 PM (Central Daylight Time) Minnesota, USA* Firefox
That email address is a variation of one of mine. My name is not Will. That is my stepson's nickname he uses online at youtube and other sites. He has not used my computer for a really long time, and I know he does not have the ability to do this. Could someone have used his laptop to get into my information?
The picture you see is of him.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
Why has this happened? Any clues?
Alle Antworten (6)
Sounds like you need the services of a security professional, to examine that device for keylogger software! (as in every keystroke you make is being sent out by a keylogger program that is hidden on that device)
Don't blame anyone until you get some facts from a professional. Your stepson might have a (so-called) friend who infected his devices awhile ago and inadvertently your device got infected. It would be quite silly for your stepson to use readily identifiable information as is happening.
You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
- MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
- Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller
- AdwCleaner (for more info, see this alternate AdwCleaner download page)
- Hitman Pro
- ESET Online Scanner
Microsoft Security Essentials is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one. Windows 8 has antivirus built-in already.
Further information can be found in the Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!
The edmeister. I know he didn't do this. As I said, he can't. He doesn't know how. I just talked to him and he doesn't know how this happened either.
I cannot afford the services of a security professional. I have to do this on my own.
Fred MCD, I have AVG, Zone Alarm, Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware. Since I still have XP, Microsoft Security Essentials is not a good choice for me. But I will check out the other programs you suggested.
Run most or all of the listed malware scanners. Each works differently. If one program misses something, another may pick it up.
penwright1029 said
The edmeister. I know he didn't do this. As I said, he can't. He doesn't know how. I just talked to him and he doesn't know how this happened either.
Sorry, you misunderstood what I said. I'll leave this in Fred's capable hands.
I used all of the malware detectors, including TDSS Killer. None of them found anything. I'm just going to consider it a one off. Some weird glitch, I suppose.
Thanks for all your trying to help me.