youngsters masking files with other types of files?mentors dilema

[mystvearn]

I have a dilema-my younger bro is downloading unapropriate stuff from the internet-mostly porn videos-and he has a good way of masking them. He know c++ and I don't. I did find the file-but all I got of a big vido file which is suppose to be few megs but all I got was a 30k file with the name thumb-maybe thumb. I have tried opening it-was some picture of oranges. Now I want these files out of my pc, but I don't know which to delete and how to expose the files. What must I do.

Of course denial of ever downloading the files will be the answer that I will get.

I don't think there is a way to stop this act-cause using winmx. Now I know that some of us like to see it-but this habbit must have its limits or it will be a crave sort of like ciggrates and alcohol.

[Surge1243]

Is he downloading it from WinMX or from the internet? If it's from the internet you could try limiting him in what sites he is able to visit. Or, you could just uninstall WinMX and say you needed the hard drive space or claim that it's infecting the system with spyware.

[bonzai]

Hahaha, I think no matter how hard you try, kids will always find a way of getting certain things, if they want it bad enough. I have an uncle who does not permit his daughters to watch TV after school, so he physically locks up the TV and computer and also prevents the machines from getting power. I go and visit them one time, and they show me how they are able to get around it. Children are clever, more than their parents or guardians will ever know.

You can use a firewall to prevent applications from accessing the Internet, or even just certain web-site. And you can configure the firewall so that only you know the password to access it, so the kid can't just exit the program or change anything. But like I said, I'm sure he will find another hole to crawl through given time.

[morriswindgate]

He is using a program called camouflage that was out on the internet. It allows you to hide a file within a file with password protection.

[mystvearn]

I'm not sure if its a camoflage software- But I can open the file- no password needed. But I get this picture files. Yes he is using winmx- I also use it so no point of unisntalling that. If I find it downloaded I will delete the file. Its rare to see the files downloaded are complete by the time I use the pc. I do not tolarete this kind of act. What is the name of the software that you said? I try do a search. I have Lavasoft ad-ware6.0 and scan from time to time. I still have space-but I would like to know how much of space this kid is taking on my hd. Thats why I told him to get rid of all the files on my pc by the time semester starts.

I am still in the state of wanting to strangle someone-maybe myself for not having the upper hand.
I am using winxp

[Surge1243]

No telling how much space he could be taking up...but those movie files could be nearing the 500 MB mark each.

[David_Jones]

Do a search for any files on your machine bigger than say, 500Mb.

I doubt there will be that many (even an 80Gb disk could only hold 160 of them with nothing else on there!

You should be able to find a limiting size that allows you to root them out without spending too long over it hopefully.

David.

[mystvearn]

I did a search-nothing. All I get is my files

[David_Jones]

How did you do the search?

Have you got Windows Explorer set to show all files (including hidden, system etc)?

Did you check all the disks / partitions, and each folder thereon?

If you find nothing but your own files, and all of the above is covered, then I'd say there is nothing there.

As a last resort, if you get Windows to give you the total disk space used by all your files and folders, and subtract that from the physical disk size, less any unused space on the disk (non partitioned), is there anything missing? If not, looks sweet to me!

David.

[morriswindgate]

What you describe is exactly how camoflage works. If you click on the file you get a .jpeg (normal file format for hiding the file in) however if you open the file using the program it asked for a password which then allows you to open the inserted file.

[Dan]

when you do your search, change your folder options to view all files....
right click your hard drive in my computer (properties) and see how much space is listed on your hd.....
tell your kid brother he can't use your machine again 'til he shows you how to erase and fiind the files.

[mystvearn]

well i did a search of sensitive files above 50mb-and found it and delete it.

[jet_rider]

try doing a search based on date modified. Doing this you can narrow down which files by date and size are worth looking at. If you find one that you are sure is his create a new jpeg that says YOUR BUSTED, STOP DOING THIS $H#T!!!! then name it the same name as the file that use to belong to your brother.

By the way what OS are you running. If you run 2K or Xp you can setup some serious ntfs permissions that will limit his ability to store files where ever he wants, thus making it easeier to find them.

[mystvearn]

hehe-I use xp- and I don't want him making an impression that I do not give him any freedom of using the pc. Well if he keeps on downloading-I keep on deleting. Fortunately he STILL does not know how to mask downloading files in winmx. That knowledge I will keep

[Dan]

big mistake
not to make this a discussion about how to raise children,
but I think the lack of discipline in this case is what lead to the problem....it's not really a PC problem....if you're allowed to be "sneaky" as a child, you can become a dishonest person.
just my 2 cents....

[mystvearn]

well childs are raised good by parents. Surroundings are changing them. Still- I think for now everyonew can still ease cause there is still no fast internet connection and there usb drives 1gb are still expansive. There was an experiment done-hecking on new type of internet connection which transfer data from california to germany in 3 seconds. Did I mention the file is 700+mb-a movie.