Was my IP address sent to the FBI?

Ok I am a homeschooling Christian mom. A good bit of other moms & I share homeschooling files through AIM along with teachers and daycare workers. We've done this for years with no problems. I am sick so I was downloading a lot of files yesterday and today. I was just going through the files I downloaded.

One program was an .exe file. It was some math program. I usually don't download programs but I did yesterday. I went to click on the program my browser popped open. The page said something like this "Stop thief! Your IP address has been filed with the FBI. Stop Internet piracy. I run my business by selling
software." I was honestly shocked and scared. Next thing I know my computer started to reboot. I turned off my Internet too really quick.

Luckily my computer booted up just fine. But what in world what that?? Was my IP address some how given to the FBI for downloading illegal software?? Will the cops come knocking at my door? I am honestly now worried and & scared now.

Thank you all for your comforting words. I am doing virus scans and spyware scans now. I have alerted my friends on AIM too about the file too. For those who asked the first was named : articulate math.exe and I just got it from a trusted friend onilne who I download from a lot. I am sure she wasn't aware of it being infected. Sure scared the wits out of me though.

Relax...no one is coming to your door - the same thing happened why my 14 year old son "accidentally" visited a porn site...except it was the CIA instead.....relax

No, the FBI isn't going to come knocking at your door. You probably get a virus or a trojan out of the experience. I suggest you scan your PC with a good virus scanner. Next, get Ad-Aware spyware scanner/cleaner. Hopefully you will have cleaned off the malware by doing that. You can get Ad-Aware Personal at:

Its a scam so you will buy a IP washer.
Do yourself a favor download Adaware from downloads.com
and do a scan. I bet you computer is filled with Ad ware.

http://www.download.com/3000-8022-100459...

Jockee

It sounds more like a virus than a real threat by the software author but the homeschooling community may be more vindictive than the shareware programmers I am used to.

I would definitely scan your computer for new viruses and make sure you have active and updated virus protection software.

I would not worry about the FBI. Besides, you probably have a dynamic IP address which is changed each session by your ISP.

I haven't heard of that one, but it sounds like a scam to me. Do you have antivirus and antispyware software? Update them, reboot into safe mode, and run a full scan.

Probably not. What was the name of the EXE file you opened that caused this.

It's nothing to worry about Maam,

I would check your computer for Malware. i.e. Viruses, Spyware and the like. It sounds like some malware was installed.
Also you will want to have a good firewall.

Sincerely,
Head of the FBI and Director of the CIA

http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBSearch.htm... this website will help keep you uptodate on scams and scares like the one you got..
a good rule of thumb is, if you don't know who the person is who's sending you email, do NOT open it. Trash it.. If it's a legitimate person that you DO know, they'll send it back, or ask ya why they didn't get a response.
This scam has been going around for a lonnnnng time..
Check this site out and educate yourself to these kinds of things.
My wife and I used to homeschool our kids as well, so, I know what you're going through..
Relax, follow the instructions of the others concerning malware, adware, etc, and you'll get yourself into a safe user environment.
Oh, and I like Spybot, Search and Destroy for cleaning out spyware.

It's a scam. Check your computer for spam and viruses. We have a guilty conscience, don't we?

Firstly, the FBI can't get you to do something, then arrest you for it...it's called entrapment.

Secondly, downloading unlicensed software violates trademark and copywright laws. On a micro level like that, it's not even something the FBI would handle.

Thirdly, NO ONE outside of your internet service provider can monitor your IP address without a warrant. This is why when all of those Naapster/RIAA things were going down, colleges clammed up and demanded warrants left and right.

There's one thing a good ole public/private school education can do, and that's grow your children to be less naive than you!

well looks like this exe file was a broswer hijacker. so best idea is to run full spyware/virus scans, i would bother about the FBI since they would need to get hundreds of reports before they even do anything.