Windows 10 opening apps/programs while laptop is closed

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trig42

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#1378164 2-Sep-2015 12:10

It may not be hackers. It looks like it is, but it may not be.

It could be that your keyboard is playing up. Have you had a spill on it? Is it full of crud? Closing the lid of the laptop may be putting enough pressure on the keys for random presses to be happening (sounds like the bottom row of the keyboard is being pressed - CTRL-ALT and Arrow keys rotate screen for example.

Does it do it if the screen is not closed?

You say 'They were trying to setup a VPN' - was there any typing? If you can see that someone has typed something, then yes = hacked. If not, then I'd be guessing the keyboard is faulty.

nathan

5695 posts

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#1378165 2-Sep-2015 12:10

shelford:
nathan: your computer is not yours anymore and the only way you can be sure its yours is to flatten and reinstall

https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh278941.aspx

Ten Immutable Laws Of Security

Law #1: If a bad guy can persuade you to run his program on your computer, it's not solely your computer anymore

It's an unfortunate fact of computer science: when a computer program runs, it will do what it's programmed to do, even if it's programmed to be harmful. When you choose to run a program, you are making a decision to turn over a certain level of control of your computer to it -- often anything up to the limits of what you yourself can do on the computer (and sometimes beyond). It could monitor your keystrokes and send them to criminals eager for the information. It could open every document on the computer, and change the word "will" to "won't" in all of them. It could send rude emails to all your friends. It could install a virus. It could create a "back door" that lets someone remotely control your computer. It could relay a bad guy’s attack on someone else’s computers. Or it could just reformat your hard drive.

That's why it's important never to run a program from an untrusted source, and to limit the ability of others to make that decision for you on your computer. There's a nice analogy between running a program and eating a sandwich. If a stranger walked up to you and handed you a sandwich, would you eat it? Probably not. How about if your best friend gave you a sandwich? Maybe you would, maybe you wouldn't—it depends on whether she made it or found it lying in the street. Apply the same critical thought to a program that you would to a sandwich, and you'll usually be safe.

Thanks for the info. Can you tell me the best way to reinstall windows? I run windows 10 and have no disc drive. Isn't there an easy way to do it without discs now?

create a bootable UFD from this ISO using this tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-nz/windows-10/media-creation-tool-install

nakedmolerat

4629 posts

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#1378171 2-Sep-2015 12:18

shelford: Sorry to be a pain again. I have done everything above but the problem is still on going. I woke up this am to find they had rotatesdthe screen again and were in the settings trying to set up a vpn. Is there anything else I can try or is a complete reinstall the best thing to do? And if so, how do I go about it?

Thanks.

I won't be using this computer until a clean install is done.

Especially no Internet banking emails accessing cloud files etc!!!

DizzyD

523 posts

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Inactive user

#1378174 2-Sep-2015 12:20

nakedmolerat:
shelford: Sorry to be a pain again. I have done everything above but the problem is still on going. I woke up this am to find they had rotatesdthe screen again and were in the settings trying to set up a vpn. Is there anything else I can try or is a complete reinstall the best thing to do? And if so, how do I go about it?

Thanks.

I won't be using this computer until a clean install is done.

Especially no Internet banking emails accessing cloud files etc!!!

Keep it off the internet until then.

shelford

115 posts

Master Geek

#1378175 2-Sep-2015 12:22

trig42: It may not be hackers. It looks like it is, but it may not be.

It could be that your keyboard is playing up. Have you had a spill on it? Is it full of crud? Closing the lid of the laptop may be putting enough pressure on the keys for random presses to be happening (sounds like the bottom row of the keyboard is being pressed - CTRL-ALT and Arrow keys rotate screen for example.

Does it do it if the screen is not closed?

You say 'They were trying to setup a VPN' - was there any typing? If you can see that someone has typed something, then yes = hacked. If not, then I'd be guessing the keyboard is faulty.

Interesting. It only does it when the lid is closed. Twice now the screen has been rotated, some settings menu is always opened and sometimes folders on the desktop. The keyboard works fine otherwise. If it was the keyboard, would it have been able to unpause iTunes?

I think the best bet would be to reinstall windows anyway.

DizzyD

523 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1378187 2-Sep-2015 12:25

shelford:
Interesting. It only does it when the lid is closed. Twice now the screen has been rotated, some settings menu is always opened and sometimes folders on the desktop. The keyboard works fine otherwise. If it was the keyboard, would it have been able to unpause iTunes?

I think the best bet would be to reinstall windows anyway.

Spacebar should pause/unpause itunes.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#1378225 2-Sep-2015 13:27

shelford:
trig42: It may not be hackers. It looks like it is, but it may not be.

It could be that your keyboard is playing up. Have you had a spill on it? Is it full of crud? Closing the lid of the laptop may be putting enough pressure on the keys for random presses to be happening (sounds like the bottom row of the keyboard is being pressed - CTRL-ALT and Arrow keys rotate screen for example.

Does it do it if the screen is not closed?

You say 'They were trying to setup a VPN' - was there any typing? If you can see that someone has typed something, then yes = hacked. If not, then I'd be guessing the keyboard is faulty.

Interesting. It only does it when the lid is closed. Twice now the screen has been rotated, some settings menu is always opened and sometimes folders on the desktop. The keyboard works fine otherwise. If it was the keyboard, would it have been able to unpause iTunes?

I think the best bet would be to reinstall windows anyway.

does it still happen if you are disconnected from internet/wifi etc?

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

shelford

115 posts

Master Geek

#1378259 2-Sep-2015 14:01

nathan:
shelford:
trig42: It may not be hackers. It looks like it is, but it may not be.

It could be that your keyboard is playing up. Have you had a spill on it? Is it full of crud? Closing the lid of the laptop may be putting enough pressure on the keys for random presses to be happening (sounds like the bottom row of the keyboard is being pressed - CTRL-ALT and Arrow keys rotate screen for example.

Does it do it if the screen is not closed?

You say 'They were trying to setup a VPN' - was there any typing? If you can see that someone has typed something, then yes = hacked. If not, then I'd be guessing the keyboard is faulty.

Interesting. It only does it when the lid is closed. Twice now the screen has been rotated, some settings menu is always opened and sometimes folders on the desktop. The keyboard works fine otherwise. If it was the keyboard, would it have been able to unpause iTunes?

I think the best bet would be to reinstall windows anyway.

does it still happen if you are disconnected from internet/wifi etc?

Unsure as it's usually always connected to the Internet. It's very intermittent that it's happening. This morning was the first time in over week that it's happened. I would assume with a faulty keyboard it would happen every time the lid was closed?

No spills on it and not full of crud.

trig42

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#1378275 2-Sep-2015 14:13

If you remember, turn off the WiFi before you go to sleep at night (use the WiFi switch/toggle on the laptop).
If that stops it, then Hackers may be your answer.
If it happens while WiFi is off, then it is a physical issue with your laptop.

shelford

115 posts

Master Geek

#1378277 2-Sep-2015 14:16

trig42: If you remember, turn off the WiFi before you go to sleep at night (use the WiFi switch/toggle on the laptop).
If that stops it, then Hackers may be your answer.
If it happens while WiFi is off, then it is a physical issue with your laptop.

Great. I'll give this a try and see how it goes for a week or so. Might do a clean install anyway and change my passwords just incase.

Thanks for all the help!

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