BEBO HARASSMENT AND INVASION OF PRIVACY

[caskin]

Please bear with me whilst I fill in the relevant gaps.

On arrival home last night I was met with the sight of my 19yr old daughter in hysterics and breaking her heart

She is an avid user of bebo and apparently a video has been posted about her with comments and film of a sexual nature...not only that it has auto downlaoded to All of her contacts.

Attempts by us to access the video to attempt to see what had been posted was met with failure,although it was noted further downloads continued to her contacts as attempted to view posted video link

Each time we attempted to view we were asked to download latest version of Flashplayer this was met with failure.

 

We would like to take this matter to the police,but prior to this how do we,view the said video,find its sender,prevent it from reoccurring??

 

All of her conttacts obviously do not check bebo every day ,but those that have have returned comments to the affect that the details are explicit.Attempts by us to contact those people have also been blocked.

 

I am preapred by private email to pass to site moderator all confidential info realting to daughters site so that damage can be viewed,but obviously I wil not pass this via open forum

 

We are very concerned and upset so would like so advice?

 

I have carried out a malware/spywire/virus check...found 18 adware and 1 trojan downloader

[Guest Saxon]

Have you contacted bebo on the matter? If it is of a sexual nature I am aware that bebo will take serious action towards the person who posted it and will them selfs if necessary contact the police.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Here is Bebo's Privacy Policy Caskin, read it and contact them explaining what has happened.

 

Privacy Policy

 

We cannot accept any private details regarding your daughters experiences with Bebo.

[BeeCeeBee]

Hello Caskin

 

My sole only reason for posting here is to let you know that I really feel for you. As a father with a daughter and 4 Granddaughters I know these Bebo type problems are only going to get worse as more people learn how to use it to harm others and that is sad.

 

I wish we could do something to be of real help to ease your daughters pain but our seeing what has upset her so much will not be helpful to her.

 

What I can suggest is that either you or she post information about her Bebo settings etc and maybe some of our members or staff can give you some help in trying to protect her from a repeat.

 

I wish we could do more I really do.

[caskin]

I do intend contacting Bebo,but as a parent wished to see if the postings /link are actual?

 

All the suggested links downloaded to her contacts are different....some when activated have the affect of bringing up the bebo securitypage saying "Wow that was close,security breach"but that doesnt help us to discover content if any.

There is I know a police section who handles this time of interent harrassment so I also fully intend conatcing them.

I do not wish to openly provide daughters bebo settings(as requested) but will do so via secure email,from proven source?

My thanks to you all......it is obviously more wide spread than I imagined......what I told my daughter is ,that as she no explicit material on the internet ,it would appear that anyone would have great difficulty if posting material that does not exist.

 

is it possible her site in infected as all attempts to contact people who have apparently viewedthese images is blocked?

[Goku]

I have not heard of the site but after a brief search, I came up with the Contact Us page of the site. It is located here. However, according to the page, if you have to report offensive content, you will need to visit the video and click on the Report Abuse link.

 

You have said that you cannot access the site on your computer but are you able to access it on someone's else. You will need to have access to the page before you can report it to Bebo. There are two ways to get this done.

 

1. Contact the Bebo management and report them your problem alongwith a link to this thread. They shall thus enforce a staff member to investigate the case and take further actions.

 

2. Access another computer through which you are able to view the site and disable any comments and click on the Report Abuse link. This will avoid any more promotion of the video.

 

Ask someone you trust to perform the same suggestions if you cannot access the site no matter how hard you try. Also, run your computer through our standard Malware Removal procedure so that anymore remnants that might have been left behind, may not gain any further information on you or keep a tab on your activities.

 

That said, we are all with you and our deepest sympathies with your daughter. Hope you are able to find and punish the culprit.

 

-- Goku

[BeeCeeBee]

Hello again.

 

I have been giving more thought to the serious social issues that you have raised. It really is disturbing. Shortly I will raise the issue in our community forums at the bottom but do not want to move your post as it belongs up here at the top.

 

I also noticed your frustration about being unable to access the information yourself. It may well be that the poster was not only malicious him/herself but that it may also have contained some malware designed to do that very thing.

 

Strictly from that perspective I suggest that when you feel ready you perform the anti malware tasks below.

 

• Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent.
  It is a combination of the words malicious and software.
  The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code.
  

• Required Cleanup Steps
  1. Disable the Spybot Search & Destroy TEA TIMER if you use it and if it is enabled
     
  2. Run a Temporary file and cache cleaner (ATF)
     
  3. Run 2 Anti-Malware scanners (Listed Below)
     
  4. Run an Online Anti-Virus / Anti-Malware Scanner (Listed Below)
     
  5. Clear out old System Restore points
     
  6. If continued Malware type activity is present you may be asked to post a TrendMicro™ HijackThis™ Log file, do not do so unless requested.
     

The reason to run multiple scanners is to ensure that no single scanner is missing something.

The time it takes will vary depending on your system and your internet connection speed.

Typically the SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes scanners will take between 10 to 90 minutes.

The ESET online scan should take between 1 to 3 hours.

In most cases, these scans will suffice to clean and disinfect your computer.

Heavily infected systems or slower PCs can take much longer to scan and clean.

 

For best results print the following instructions and bookmark this Web page

To keep this guide printer-friendly, use your cursor to highlight the contents below.

From your browser select File - Print and in the printer dialog box under "Print range"

click the

Selection

choice to print out these instructions for removal of malware.

 

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/printer-selection.gif

 

____________________________________________

STEP 1

• Disable Spybot Search & Destroys' TEA TIMER: (if installed, if not go to Step 2)
  1. Run Spybot-S&D in Advanced Mode.
     
     
  2. If it is not already set to do this Go to the Mode menu select "Advanced Mode"
     
     
  3. On the left hand side, Click on Tools
     
     
  4. Then click on the Resident Icon in the List
     
     
  5. Uncheck "Resident TeaTimer" and OK any prompts.
     
     
  6. Restart your computer.
     
     

__________________________________________________

STEP 2

• Follow these instructions carefully.
  
  
• Download ATF-Cleaner from
  Snapfiles.com
  to remove un-needed temporary files from your computer that may contain malware.
  
  
• You can also download it from
  Majorgeeks.com
  
  
• When you run ATF-Cleaner, check the items as shown below for Main.
  
  
• For FireFox, be sure to click on the FireFox tab on top and check the items as shown below for FireFox
  
  
• NOTE:
  If you don't have FireFox or Opera installed then they will be grayed out and can be ignored
  
  
• Then click on "Empty Selected".
  
  

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner01.gif

.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/Malware%20Guide/atf-cleaner02.gif

__________________________________________________

STEP 3

• Install and run the free version (not the Professional version) of SUPERAntiSpyware from
  SUPERAntiSpyware.com
  
  
  • Accept any prompts to allow SUPERAntiSpyware to install the latest rules and infection definition files.
    
    
  • You do not have to send them your e-mail address, just click next.
    
    
  • You can leave the automated check for updates on.
    
    
  • You can uncheck "Send a diagnostic report to research center" if you don't want to send the information.
    
    
  • DO NOT
    allow SUPERAntiSpyware to protect your Home Page settings.
    
    
  • On the
    Top Left
    select the
    Scan your computer
    button.
    
    
  • Make sure there is a CHECK MARK on all
    Fixed Drives
    .
    
    
  • Click "Perform a Complete Scan". Click "Next" to Repair issues found and reboot the computer when prompted to do so.
    
    

__________________________________________________

STEP 4

• Install and run
  Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  from
  Malwarebytes - (direct download)
  
  
  • Accept all defaults for the installer
    
    
  • Allow the program to update the definitions
    
    
  • Click on the
    Quick Scan
    and click Next.
    
    
  • If any items are found allow it to clean them and then Reboot your computer.
    
    

__________________________________________________

STEP 5

• Run an online scan with ESET from
  Free Virus Scan: Use ESET's Online Antivirus Scanner
  
  
  • You
    must
    use Internet Explorer for this online scan. FireFox, Opera, etc will not work for this scan.
    
    
  • If your computer is running Window's Vista, then you
    must first
    start Internet Explorer as an Administrator. To do so, right-click on the
    Internet Explorer
    icon in the Start Menu and select "
    Run as administrator
    " from the popup context menu.
    
    
  • Accept the terms and click "Start".
    
    
  • Once the scanner is ready, check "Remove found threats" AND "Scan unwanted applications".
    
    
  • Click "Start" to begin the scan.
    
    
  • When completed restart your computer
    
    

__________________________________________________

Make sure your internet firewall security is enabled, and then please return to

Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

and tell us how the computer seems to be operating.

At that time, you will receive instructions to assist you in removing malicious programs from your Add/Remove program list if warranted.

 

If required this is the download link for

TrendMicro™ HijackThis™

Unless instructed to by the Technician helping you then do not download this tool.

 

Once you and the Technician agree that your system appears to be clean then you should delete all your System Restore points and recreate a new one.

Please follow the instructions here

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows XP

How to turn off and turn on System Restore in Windows Vista

 

Edited November 9, 2008 by BeeCeeBee

[BeeCeeBee]

Just a quick note.

 

I just read your latest post and want to quickly correct an impression I may have left by not rereading what I had written.

 

Neither I nor anyone else associated with Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help would ever ask for you to post any settings that would identify your daughter, her PC or compromise her security in any way. She has suffered enough of that.

 

What I had in mind was the general level of settings and choices given out by the site for security and protection. So that others more familiar with this kind of site may offer advice.

 

I can see now that it may have been interpeted differntly and it is a lesson learned!!

Edited November 9, 2008 by BeeCeeBee

[caskin]

The level of support from this Forum never fails to amaze me and I thank you all.

 

I have now managed to contact bebo who promise me an early reply.They apparently automatically inform the police who do have the facilities to discover source of harassment.

 

equally I do have malwarebytes/super antispyware installed....when run this found one high risk Trojan downloader and 18 ad ware infestations.

 

Thanks to the Forum I have managed to console my daughter and put her mind at ease,as have explained it is more than likely an unfounded virus with no actual pictorial or audio attachments.

 

It is a malicious virus as when the recipient receives the link and activates to view or be entertained,it immediately infects their section of the site and downloads similar links automatically to their throed party contacts.

 

As stated this is serious state of affairs as many youngsters use these forums such as Bepo and facebook etc,where they leave far too much personal information and do leave themselves wide open to infection such as this,suffering the same dispair as my daughter initially felt.

 

As and when I receive more info from bepo I will pass on my findings......thank you

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Please do Caskin.

 

Hope all goes well mate and they nail this *******.

 

Did you run the scan from ESET?

[BeeCeeBee]

Just in case you missed it Caskin, you are getting some non tech support as well

 

http://extremetechsupport.com/forum/off-topic-civilised-discussion-world-news-etc/4437-bebo-and-social-network-issues.html#post31798

 

You have clearly touched a nerve so some good may come out of this afterall.

[caskin]

I did miss that ,thanks for informing me I will follow it up...so far we have had no action from bebo!

But today I contacted their headoffice laying out my concerns,so as stated will get back with their replies as and whhen.

[Dalo Harkin]

Caskin,

 

The fact that its been sent from your daughters address, says that someone has her log on details (probably from Uni, or College or whatever, some public access anyway)

and she needs to disable that account for now.

I really would keep hammering home at Bebo as with all of these 'communities' they do take things like this seriously, but they may not be too prompt about it.