New to broadband, may have been hacked - HELP.

[Dem2theMax]

Hello all. I haven't posted in ages. I have been on dial-up since 1995. Yes, feel sorry for me. LOL. I live in the boondocks.
Anyway, got broadband about a week ago. I am still using my AOL mail names, so I have to log into AOL.com to get my mail.
Two days ago, when I logged in, the main screen welcomed me using my correct screen name. When I clicked on "mail," a different screen name came up. This happened numerous times. I couldn't access my own mail. I could only see this other person's screen name, but I couldn't see any of their mail. After logging in and out a few more times, my screen name came up. Figured it was just a hitch.

Later same day, I'm listening to music videos. (Did you know they have VIDEOS online? LOL. In dial-up world, you don't get to see these things!) Anyway, I'm saving a video to a play list and it says I already have one - in the name of the screen name that had been popping up when I tried to access my email. I clicked on this guy's name and there was no profile. I tried to email him and he's not accepting emails. So I contacted AOL and they had me check all my settings, clean out all the old data, had me check to see if any emails had been sent out that I didn't send myself, (that was OK) and that was it. The guy's name still came up when trying to access my email. Back to AOL tech support. (I can hear you all laughing!) They basically had me do the same things, in addition to a screen capture to send to them. While I was talking to AOL (online chat session) the mysterious name suddenly logged out. Right after that, AOL told me to log out and log back in and my name came up. I haven't had the wrong screen name come up since then.
BUT - weird thing. When I clicked back in to AOL.com, music started playing. The song was from ZZ Top. My last email sent referenced ZZ Top. I asked a friend who has used AOL.com for his email for years if he has ever had music play when logging in. The answer? NO.
Coincidence? My email and ZZ Top playing? I don't know. Was I hacked? I don't know how to tell. I've been on dial-up for years. I never had problems with ANYTHING on dial-up. I can type. Beyond that, I'm pretty much an idiot with computers.

Oh, security software. Remember, I'm an idiot. Old computer crashed earlier in the year. Had to have a new one built. THEY put Norton Anti-Virus 2007 on the new computer. I never did anything with it - it seemed to be doing the job. I called Norton about the hacking problem, possibility of getting new software. Got someone who barely spoke English. Surprise. That call ended shortly. lol? So I'm sitting here with old Norton software, which I've been told is a memory hog. Right now, computer says I have 98GB of RAM available to me. Other than being online, Norton is the only thing running. I bought 512MB of RAM. But only 98GB is available?

So, after all this, what are my questions?

1. How do I know if I've been hacked?
2. What do I do to fix/prevent it from happening again?
3. Security software - what to use?

4. HELP!

Thanks to anyone and everyone who replies. I REALLY need help and I trust the members of DU. I know that the folks in this forum are great. I come in here and read from time to time, trying to learn. Apparently, I didn't learn quite enough? LOL?

If you reply and I don't write back right away, I have to run an errand in a bit. But I'll be back ASAP. THANKS!

[hobbit709]

1. First thing is to download and save these

1. Spybot Search and Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
2. Either AVG or
http://free.avg.com/
or Avast
http://vvww-avast.com/?t=AVAST1U
3. Advanced Windows Care
http://www.iobit.com/advancedwindowscareper.html?Str=download

After you have these, uninstall Norton.
Then install the programs you downloaded, update if needed and run a full system scan with all of them.
Setup your mailbox or boxes with your broadband ISP and dump AOL.

[Dem2theMax]

2. Thank you SO much for the reply and all of the information.

I just got home and came right here. So now, I'll get to work on what you suggested!
Thank you again very, very much! :) :) :)

Dem

[DemReadingDU]

3. and if you already haven't, please change your AOL password

If you already haven't changed your AOL password, please get a new password to prevent the possibility of someone getting into your AOL.

If your computer has been used as a zombie, check your 'sent mail', and see if there are any emails that have been sent, but you don't remember sending them.

[Dem2theMax]

5. That was the FIRST thing I did. LOL. I changed every darned

password I have. Had to go and write them all down, they are all so hard to remember now!

Believe it or not, the AOL folks actually had me check my emails to see if anyone had sent anything. Not a one. WHEW!

I really appreciate your response to my plight. I'm feeling a LOT better today. Was worried sick the day I posted my problem.
This has actually been a good thing for me. Forced me to do a lot of 'housekeeping' on the computer. Even went out and bought an external hard drive, something that I've been meaning to do for ages. (Would it surprise you to hear that I've been pretty bad when it comes to backing up my files? lol? Not anymore!) :)

[lpbk2713]

4. Do you connect to your broadband via a wireless router by any chance?

If so, check your security settings.

:thumbsup: :hi: :thumbsup:

[Dem2theMax]

6. Nope. No wireless anything around here. I live in a canyon type of setting.

And wireless doesn't work well. So I'm hooked to the wall for as long as I live here. Unless technology gets better than the hills are big. LOL.

Thank you for the hint though. Maybe someday I'll be able to use it - if that technology ever comes through! ;)

[whistler162]

7. If you are hooked directly in your Cable modem

I would suggest going out and buying a router. This will add a major defensive layer to your home network.

http://www.homenethelp.com/router-guide/index.asp

[Dem2theMax]

8. All I have is one computer, and unless I win the lotto

that's the way it's going to be till the day I die. lol?

I've barely heard of routers. Any suggestions besides the link you gave me? (Which I thank you for!) :)

[whistler162]

9. Home network is...

1 PC or more than 1 PC.

Welcome.

http://compnetworking.about.com/od/routers/Routers_DSL_and_Cable_Modem_Network_Routers.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residential_gateway

This one is a little tech heavy but good - http://www.grc.com/nat/nat.htm

A few inexpensive routers -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127091 - is wired only, if you are sure you won't ever use a wireless device.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124136R - if you might ever get adventerous.

There is some learning but the router makes your network safere.