Extortion emails are currently circulating claiming that the computer has been hacked, all data has been copied and the victim has been filmed via webcam while visiting adult websites. There is a threat to publish the material if a certain sum is not paid.
Blackmail wave continues
This is a scam. The blackmailer does not have access to the account in question, but has merely falsified the sender of the email.
Please note: The alleged videos do not exist. The blackmailers only want to scare users.
Please do not pay under any circumstances. It makes more sense to report such emails and other blackmail attempts immediately, e.g. to the nearest police station.
Content of the blackmail e-mail
Greetings!
I have bad news for you.28/07/2019 - on this day I hacked your operating system and gained full access to your account max.mustermann@kürzel.tu-freiberg.de.
How was it:There was a vulnerability in the software of the router you were connected to that day.I hacked this router first and put my malicious code on it.When I entered the Internet, my Trojan was installed on your device's operating system.
After that, I saved all the data on your hard drive (I have your entire address book, the history of the websites you viewed, all the files, phone numbers and addresses of all your contacts).
I wanted to lock your device. And require a small amount of money for unlocking it.But I looked at the websites you visit regularly and came to the great shock of your favourite resources.I'm talking about adult websites.
I want to say - you're a big pervert. You have unbridled imagination!
After that, an idea came to my mind.I took a screenshot of the intimate website where you are having fun (you know what it's about, right?).After that, I took your pleasures (with the camera of your device). It turned out wonderfully, do not hesitate.
I am firmly convinced that you do not want to show these pictures to your relatives, friends or colleagues.I think 729€ is a very small amount for my silence.Moreover, I spent a lot of time with you!
I only accept bitcoins.My BTC wallet: *BITCOIN-CODE*
Don't know how to send bitcoinsWrite "how to send money to BTC wallet" in a search engine.It's easier than sending money to a credit card!
I'll give you just over two days (exactly 50 hours) to make the payment.Don't worry, the timer will start the moment you open this letter. Yes, yes ... it has already started!
Once payment is received, my viruses and dirty photos will automatically destroy themselves.If I do not receive the specified amount from you, your device will be locked and all your contacts will receive a photo with your "joys".
I want you to be prudent.
Don't try to find and destroy my virus! (All your data is already uploaded to a remote server.)Do not try to contact me (This is not possible, I sent you this email from your account).Various security services will not help you; formatting a hard drive or destroying a device will not help either, as your data is already on a remote server.
P.S. I guarantee you that I won't bother you again after payment, as you are not my only victim.This is a hacker's code of honour.
From now on, I recommend you to use good antivirus programs and update them regularly (several times a day)!
Don't be angry with me, everyone has their own job.Farewell.
How do the blackmailers know your e-mail address?
Whenever company databases are hacked, for example, the data they contain ends up on various relevant websites and on the darknet. There are databases with various information such as names and email addresses. The blackmailers simply make use of these databases. They write to users automatically and try to blackmail them "on the off chance".
Is your e-mail address listed?
If data has been stolen in publicised hacks, it can be checked on various portals. Data matching is used to check whether, for example, the email address has been disclosed in connection with other personal data on the Internet and could be misused.
Have you received a suspicious e-mail?
Have you already replied to such an email, clicked on a link or attachment or passed on information? Do you have any questions about emails or IT security? Then please contact the IT Service Desk by email at servicedesk [at] tu-freiberg [dot] de (servicedesk[at]tu-freiberg[dot]de) or by telephone on extension 1818.
Note: Please only employees or students of TU Bergakademie Freiberg.
If possible, you can also forward the email in question as an attachment. This will also give us access to the information in the e-mail header.