I know this is potentially against the rules, but I couldn't find anything against it. If any of you mods think it is unallowed, then please close or delete.

Here is the problem anyway: I have got good reason to think my son is talking and communicating with people who he perhaps shouldn't be over the internet. I have started to think this because every time I go into his room, he minimises everything as quickly as he can, he has what I can only describe as very "unsavoury" names in his msn contact list, and he is being generally being very secretive about his internet activity, and spending a lot of time in chat rooms. Unfortunately he has enough tech savvy to be able to delete his internet history. He also used to keep his yahoo mail account set to be signed in automatically, but now he has changed this. What I want to know is; if his password was once stored on his pc for automatic log in, is there any way I can find it?

I know this is a violation of his privacy, but I am worried about what he is up to, and so is my wife.

I'm not trying to take on the role of parental councellor here but my advice is to speak to your son about this. If the behaviour continues then move his PC to the main living area or cancel his internet access.
Alternatively install a monitor proggy like netnanny.

As for the technical question of retrieving a stored password I'll leave the topic open for members to answer.

you could also use a keylogger so everything he types on the keyboard will be stored for you to later look including all passwords he uses. Some keyloggers will also capture the screen at set intervals.
A google search should bring up loads of information for you.

peter

Yep, a keylogger would be the best way of finding out for sure that he is actually up to something. I have a 14 year old son myself so I understand your concerns exactly. ;)

As DM said, I would talk to him but after you know for sure one way or the other..... just my 2c....I don't really want to start offering any parenting advice here you know. I'm not Clare Rayner! :D

I wish you well in sorting this out. :)

Check his cookies in his profile

Keylogger is better. Look here for More (www.keylogger.net/).

As for password recovery... don't know how far it will work but just have a look Here (http://www.iopus.com/password_recovery.htm).

Hope you will solve this matter soon. :tup:

Im just wondering, how old is he?

i think there is a program that will give you msn messenger passwords, dont know if it works though, i cannot remember the site were i got it from. sorry mods if i am pushing it abit

Cheers for the help, I've downloaded and installed perfect keylogger, so I'll see what happens now.

He's just turned 15 ps2wiz. I know some may think, "well, he's not THAT young", but it's not the point. He's still impressionable, and there are plenty of inscrupulous t*ssers out there who would happily take advantage of it. It may turn out that what he is doing is harmless, and he is just talking to kids his own age, I hope it does pan out like that, but I just want to make sure.

I do intend to have a chat with him about it, but I would like to know if I have good reason to be worried first.

Once again, thanks for all the help, much appreciated.

it may not be who he's talking to online but what he's looking at online. It's very easy to have porn sent to your email mailbox and they almost always contain some type of link to a web page. So this could explain why he covers his tracks. I don't think that windows saves who you talk to in a chat room in the history or temp internet files or cookies. If he's downloading the porn and looking at it later then go to C:\windows\Recent\
it will show every picture, video, document and mp3 that was opened. Many people don't know it exists because it's not on the main screen like the documents folder is.

Hey Phil.....I got 15 & 19 yr old gurls and here's the way I went about this same problem....
First off remember we were the same age at one time and we did what we had to ,to do what we wanted to do....
My gurls have total access and I don't even worry about it....
So what if he looks at some porn,,,WE DID....
So what if he is being sneaky with his IM's,,,He's getting older and this is the beginning of independentcy<<<( close enuff )
The way I look at it ,I would rather have them on the puter then hanging out on the corner or out with friends getting drunk like I did...
Start cutting the ropes bro....It will pay off for both....
And screw watching what he is doing,,,that in my book will only make thing worse...trust me...
GL bro and remember this is JMO on this issue........Later All

I'm closing this thread now as it has been answered as fully as possible.

I'm sure we don't want a computer related issue turning into a moral one as we all have our own seperate opinions on that and this is not really the place for it.

All the very best philmeehan in sorting this. :)