aol password cracking

[papertech]

Calm down guys and gals........you know I'm NOT the type to want info on taboo subjects, but........

Client brought me her 17 year old daughter's computer with a story that her kid met some guy from Georgia on the net and ran away with him. Now she's trying to find out anything possible. (Don't feel too bad because she had a chance to get the auto tag number and call police, but didn't.)

Anyway, most files were pretty trashed, but they forgot to disable goback so I've been able to recover quite a bit. Looks like there's been a visa card application, visits to gambling and sex sites, etc. I found screen names & passwords for various sites.

She signed on a trial acct with aol, but didn't seem to cache any passwords. Unless, I'm looking for the wrong thing. Any suggestions on file types possible, other than pwl?

Apologies in advance if this questioning is not in good keeping with the reputation of this site. Thanks for your understanding.

[Budfred]

I would urge you to contact police immediately. By having this computer in your possession and tinkering with it, you are tinkering with evidence... I am not sure about laws in Florida, but I am pretty sure the case would be considered kidnapping. If it is not, contacting police would at lease CYA...

[Mark Miller]

Call the cops, if anything happens to the kid you are going to be envolved in something that you really should not be
M

[papertech]

I have the same concerns, but according to the parent and my husband, it's age 16 in Florida. I'm encouraging her to at least file a missing persons report and of course, I'd gladly speak with any authorities. I've known the parents for several years and worked on daughter's other computer in the past. At least I got the drive back to where they can look at it now. (I know someone tried to before bringing it to me, because the mother told me that all the files had been deleted.) I do keep fairly detailed records of the jobs as I'm doing them.

As for me calling the police personally, everything I know is hearsay. I just pray that the girl is OK (although I doubt it) and will keep encouraging the parents to pursue her rescue.

I intend to return the box to the mother tomorrow. In the meantime, I'd keep looking if I had any idea of file types to look for.

Thanks again for being out there.

[Steve]

I encourage you to follow Budfreds and Marks advice. Keep in mind, reguardless of state law, if they cross the state border, this might turn into a federal matter. Do the right thing. The police know a lot more than you or us about things like this. Don't wait.

[papertech]

And yes, I want to do the right thing. Other than the girl's name, you all know as much as I do. As I said, hear say. If I did attempt to make a report, what do I have to say that is valid? Wouldn't getting the parents to file a missing person's report first be the way to get any balls rolling? Then there would be a valid report in place that I could follow up on.

[YODA74]

They need to file this report the police are not going to listen to you what so ever This is federal she has gone out of state have the parents call the FBI and tell them to turn over this Hard drive do not go any farther by trying to get info off this HDD What concerns me is her age some states she is no longer a minor so there may be nothing her parents can do they may have to contact a private Investigator


Client brought me her 17 year old daughter's computer with a story that her kid met some guy from Georgia on the net and ran away with him.

:confused: if i were her i would contact the Georgia state police and give them the lisence#

If I were you I would stop what your doing with the drive..give it back and advise her as to the proper procedure. Also give her this site
http://predator-hunter.com/index1.htm

[Steve]

Papertech,

As I reread my post, I thought that it sounded kind of harsh. I didn't mean it to. In cases like this time is the most important thing. You don't have to file a report or a complaint, just tell someone. If the cops don't want to do anything, at least you did your part. You did say that you doubt that the girl is OK. Help her out.

[Budfred]

In my work I often encounter situations that may or may not be reportable. I learned long ago to call and ask rather than going by what anyone else tells me. If you are tampering with evidence, your role has exceeded the level of only hearsay, so I urge you to call and ask someone in charge at the police what action you need to take.

[papertech]

Thanks Yoda, for a place to start.

You're right about the age thing and the kid went willingly. The parents stupidly didn't get a tag number. (The parents were married and having children themselves by age 15. This is their youngest of 3 kids.)

Steve, you ARE harsh. If you knew me personally, you would know that I am a very compassionate, do-gooder. But thanks for your replies, I know what you are feeling as I feel it too, only more.

Luckily, I do also know other adult relatives of the kid and will pressure them to pressure the parents to do something. Hopefully it's not too late.

[Steve]

Steve, you ARE harsh.

Not really. I'm certainly not the only one to suggest you contact the authorities. It might have SOUNDED harsh to call it the right thing to do but not doing it, if you doubt that the girl is OK, might sound a little harsh too.

I come from a police family and know the local cops pretty well. I guess it's just easier for me to grab the phone.

No harshness intended.

[papertech]

Thanks again for all your concerns.

Thought you might like to know that the mom just told me that the kid was sighted locally last night.

Whew! What a relief!

I gotta learn to screen my jobs more carefully!