Someone is watching everything you’ve been doing online, and wow. Just wow.
That’s essentially the pitch of a terrifying new online scam, and you shouldn’t become the next victim!
Here’s how it goes: After obtaining one of your passwords (probably by purchasing it from one of the many leaks over the years), some bad actor will send you an email.
That email will show your password, and warn you that more of your personal data — including hacked webcam footage of your behavior while sampling some of the internet’s more risque corners — will find the light of day if you don’t pay up.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Inside the $125,000 gay prison dating scam targeting straight men
Here’s one email that’s been making the rounds:
I’m aware that X is your password.
You don’t know me and you’re thinking why you received this e mail, right?
Well, I actually placed a malware on the porn website and guess what, you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I mean). While you were watching the video, your web browser acted as a RDP (Remote Desktop) and a keylogger which provided me access to your display screen and webcam. Right after that, my software gathered all your contacts from your Messenger, Facebook account, and email account.
What exactly did I do?
I made a split-screen video. First part recorded the video you were viewing (you’ve got a fine taste haha), and next part recorded your webcam (Yep! It’s you doing nasty things!).
What should you do?
Well, I believe, $1400 is a fair price for our little secret. You’ll make the payment via Bitcoin to the below address (if you don’t know this, search “how to buy bitcoin” in Google) .
BTC Address: 1Dvd7Wb72JBTbAcfTrxSJCZZuf4tsT8V72
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)Important:
You have 24 hours in order to make the payment. (I have an unique pixel within this email message, and right now I know that you have read this email). If I don’t get the payment, I will send your video to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers, and so forth. Nonetheless, if I do get paid, I will erase the video immidiately. If you want evidence, reply with “Yes!” and I will send your video recording to your 5 friends. This is a non-negotiable offer, so don’t waste my time and yours by replying to this email.
Woah. This is cool. A Bitcoin ransom with using what I think is passwords from a big leak. Pretty neat since people would be legit scared when they see their password. The concealed part is actually an old password I used to use. pic.twitter.com/clEYiFqvHY
— can (@can) July 11, 2018
Related: The Dallas Grindr Scammer Will Break Your Heart And Your Bank Account
“I made a split-screen video,” the letter reads. “First part recorded the video you were viewing (you’ve got a fine taste haha), and next part recorded your webcam (Yep! It’s you doing nasty things!).”
Here’s what you need to know — They almost certainly do not have any videos.
What’s more, of the cases that have been reported, the passwords have been quite old. Still, it’s scary to see a password you’ve used published in such a threatening manner.
But to the question of whether or not your webcam is hackable, the answer is most certainly yes.
If you’re really concerned about it, a post-it can work wonders.
Nahald
So ? Unless you are ashamed of visiting porn sites etc, don’t worry about it.
radiooutmike
It would be way more profitable for the “hacker” to do a typical lockdown of your hard drive, than to futz around with a webcam (or at least pretend to).
tham
Again, even if they have your password to your computer…it means nothing if they don’t have the IP address of your computer.
Hence the bogus spam hoax part, millions of passwords were hack from several places a few years back…but they’re pointless unless they have millions of IP addresses to go with those passwords.
But, it’s always good to change up your passwords every now and then
DMBY2017
Ive had 6 or 7 of these in the last week, the ransom ranged from $300 to $1200 from various different email names all of which got reported as a phishing scam or just plain blocked. I do watch porn and at NO point did the webcam light come on to say that it was active.
S.anderson
Don’t rely on the webcam light. It’s not hard-wired in somehow to prove that the camera is running. The camera can absolutely be turned on separately from the light.
Brian
The camera light might stay off. After all, it’s a hack.
Go change all of your passwords already! You should be doing that periodically anyway, but especially after that sort of spamming.
Sam6969
Yes, the light off means nothing. I put some opaque tape on my laptop integrated webcam.
Me2
I thought everyone knew to cover the webcam on their computers with a piece of electrical tape or something, when not in use.
Hillers
Yeah, isn’t that kind of internet-ing 101? My work one is covered with a humorous and ironic sticker that reads, “I <3 TOUCHING BASE."
Raphael
Mine is always pointing to the ceiling and mic not even connected…
Brian
Some of these are probably faked. It was an episode of “Black Mirror,” so it might be inspiring people smart enough to spam but not necessarily smart enough to do all the hacking/blackmailing.
tham
They can’t really hack into you computer without an IP address. Email addresses are on the cloud.
nitejonboy
I got one of those the other day and they actually did have my bank password, which concerned me, I changed it and I believe my bank was the only place that still had that old password, but IM curious how they got it?
Sam6969
Maybe a keylogger virus on your computer? Anyway, you probably should pass on your drives your updated antivirus and various antispyware (such as spybot, adwcleaner, Malwarebytes, ad-remover, etc.) to be sure there is nothing left.
tham
From one of those bank hacks a few years ago…
tham
Who uses a computer to watch porn nowadays? What is this? 2010?
Sam6969
What is (are) the alternative(s)?
1898
yes, web cams are hackable and have been hacked. in my state, this actually happened to high school girls on their school-issued laptops. the webcam light did NOT come on.
i always keep my webcam on my laptop covered, and I cover the front-facing camera on my phone as well. i uncover it for selfies and then immediately cover it up again
unfortunately they can still have your microphone and listen in on you. a few months ago i was at a doctor appointment, talking to my doctor about a very specific and uncommon ailment, and my phone was in the room with me. next day i started seeing ads on instagram about treatments for that ailment. been using instagram for years and that was the first time i ever got an ad for any medical treatment, let alone a treatment for my rare condition. hard to believe it was just a coincidence. oh, and I had microphone access turned OFF in the instagram privacy settings. those settings are easily defeated, apparently…