You are here:
- Home
- Business
- Corporate Law
- Computer Law
- Soon To Be Ex Husband and my emails
Computer Law/Soon To Be Ex Husband and my emails
Advertisement
Question
QUESTION: My soon-to-be ex husband I believe has gained access to my emails. I had sent private information to my attorney about things he wasn't complying with and a couple of days later he started correcting things he had been doing wrong. My email was very specific and it was very out of character for him to behave without a court order telling him to do something. In all actuality, even the court orders don't work. His sudden change in behavior and from vague comments he's made leave me to believe that he's hacked into my email. I went and did discover a trojan virus while doing a scan. We live in Oklahoma. I guess I have the burden of proof, but I really think he has hacked into my email and possibly all of my computer which has me scared and feeling violated by him all over again. He's abusive and frequently stalks me which is a whole other issue. I don't know what to do now. Is hacking into my email even a crime? Is there anything that I can do, if so, what?
ANSWER: Hi Rebecca,
Yes it is a crime but like you said you have to be able to prove it in some fashion. If you have changed your passwords (which you should do if you have not already done so) scanned your computer using an anti-virus (AVG Free is a good one) and an anti-malware program (Spybot Search and Destroy (free) ) then you should be OK. Do not open any attachments to any e-mails he sends you without scanning them with your virus protection first (its a right click on the attachment and then select scan with AVG or whatever you use).
If you cannot show or have proof of some sort that he has done this, be glad he complied with whatever it was you were wanting him to do! There is a silver lining to every cloud!
Make sure your computer is protected with anti-virus software (updated once a week at least!), anti-malware (updated also once a week) and you will be fine.
Here are a few of my suggestions and ones that I use all the time:
AVG Anti-virus Free edition
Spybot Search and Destroy anti-spyware free
AdAware Free Edition.
Get those if you do not already have some, update them, run them and you should be good to go.
Be safe and have a great holiday season.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I scanned and discovered a trojan virus, so now what?
Hi again,
I hope you remove the virus using the program, and secure it from now on as I mentioned above. That should make your system run faster and better.
As for your concerns about your soon to be ex-husband, without some kind of proof or other material, you really don't have a whole lot to give to law enforcement to make a case.
But your system is clean and secure now, keep it that way and you should be OK.
Related Articles
Chris Wagoner
Expertise
I can answer questions concerning Computer Crime Investigations and Internet investigations including Computer Crime Laws both at the State level and Federal level. I can answer questions on almost any crime in which a computer is used. In addition I can answer questions concerning copywrite infringement (peer to peer, and copying). I served as a police Commander and conducted and still conduct Computer Crime Investigations at the Local, State and Federal level. I have investigated all most any kind of crime with which or which involved a computer and the internet, from murders, kidnappings, extortion, drug dealing and more. I can answer questions concerning Computer Forensics (the art of recovering information from a suspects computer), Computer Crime Investigations and Internet Investigations. I am a Federally Court Recognized Expert in Computer Crime and Computer Forensics. I have worked in both Facebook and MySPace, also in Peer to Peer investigations. In addition I can answer questions concerning child predators and how to make your children safer on-line. I teach Computer Forensics, Internet Investigations, Peer to Peer Investigations and other computer crime related subjects for several colleges and the Institute of Police Technology and Management. My hobby webpage - Military Videos - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487
Experience
I conduct computer crime investigations in conjunction with the F.B.I., Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Gainesville Police Department, and University of Florida Police Department, Levi County Sheriff’s Office, Starke Police Department and other agencies in the North Florida Court District. I provide the forensic data recovery services for those agencies as well as internet tracing and information gathering. I am a Federal Court Certified Expert in Computer Crime Investigations and Forensics. I teach Computer Forensics for the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. I also teach Computer Crime courses for Tallahassee Community College, Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Training Center. Associate Instructor; teach Computer Crime courses thorough out the world for IPTM. Presently Teach Cyber Crime Investigations, Computer Crime Investigations and Computer Forensic Data Recovery Course.
Education/Credentials
2 Degrees in Criminal Justice, now teach college level Data Forensics classes
Awards and Honors
Awarded the FBI Directors Award for assisting the FBI in a National Computer Crime Investigation. Awarded Dec 2002
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.