How did this happen?

[wdfifteen]

I was on line yesterday and was replying to a post on this message board. I had done a "quote" and hadn't started typing yet, when the cursor started moving all on it own, deleted the entire quote, then I got a flash of a message that said, something, something "SORRY." Then a message saying my gmail was temporarily unavailable. I turned off the wi-fi and shut down the computer.
Was there someone somewhere who had taken direct control of my computer or did a bot or something get turned loose in my computer and start doing pre-determined mischief? I use a mac, and a scan for viruses comes up negative. What the heck happened?

[M.D. Holloway]

All is fine, pay no mind. Please deposit all funds in the account number that will soon present to the screen. You will be fine. All is well.

[stomachmonkey]

Do you have remote login enabled?

Check System Preferences/Sharing.

What is checked off?

[pete3799]

I got a PM from someone Saturday can't remember who from( i deleted it) ....opened it and it was some random Porsche related rambling. Later that day a window pops up ( out of the blue) wanting me to pick a country to start downloading. I ran 2 full scans and didn't find anything.
Happened again yesterday. Hit control +alt+delete haven't seen it since.
Don't know if it's related to that PM but i wonder.

[pete3799]

Guess i spoke too soon.....it's back

"Select the country for this installation from the choices below"

Anybody else getting this? And how do i get rid of it.

[Por_sha911]

When the box pops up hit Cntrl/Alt/Delete and go to "Start Task Manager". Check to see what applications are running. Sounds like you have a virus. The best thing to do when you get a popup (especially with a fake virus warning) is to hit Alt/F4 or Cntrl/W (which will close the current open IE window). It will not eliminate whatever to causing the popup but it will prevent it from continuing.

[RWebb]

also chg tabs and check what processes are running - can be hard to ID those tho

[Por_sha911]

RWebb: agree but most people don't know what they are looking at. I recorded what processes are running when I knew the machine was clean and can compare to a current condition (although there are always changes).

[sammyg2]

Sorry dude, that was me. I was practicing using the force and got a little carried away.

BTW these are not the droids you are looking for.

[RedBaron]

Someone is using remote desktop to mess with you. Turn it off in system preferences.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Was there someone somewhere who had taken direct control of my computer

I don't think it was "remote desktop" because when you access a PC via remote desktop, the local user essentially gets locked out and the screen goes blank.

BUT, I bet someone accessed your PC via "remote assistance". You should probably turn that off. Fortunately, you were able to watch what they did.

[stomachmonkey]

He's on a Mac.

Several ways to remote in, Apples Remote Desktop, screen sharing, ssh to remote management, it'll even respond to a standard VNC client if the proper services are enabled.

But they are all turned off by default. They need to be user enabled and access privileges set. Not something that one does by accident.

Any kids in the house? Sounds like someones playing a joke.

[RWebb]

good one sammy!