Hacked account and ransom in Bitcoin. The e-mail scam that alarmed the web.

For months now, strange e-mails have been flooding into mailboxes worldwide, announcing the hacking of operating systems and accounts—such scams designed to extort large sums of money.

The peculiarity of the latest scam is the e-mail’s subject line that contains an actual password that the user is currently using or has used in the past. This password should not frighten you. Many are easily found from lists of data stolen from large web giants such as Facebook, Google and Dropbox. The game seems to be working since, as of 20 September, incoming transactions on the scammers’ digital wallets exceeded 10,000 euros.

The incriminating e-mails all have a similar structure

An expert hacker presents himself, claiming to have gained access to the user’s operating system or mailbox and obtained content and contacts. Suppose a large sum of money is not paid in Bitcoin within the set timeframe (usually 24 to 48 hours). In that case, the poor man’s sensitive content (mainly pornographic material) is shared with all his contacts, compromising his reputation forever.

But have I also been hacked?

The question arises. Fortunately, haveibeenpwned.com comes to our rescue. All you have to do is enter your e-mail address to find out which sites and on what date someone stole your information.

Data protection: 3 rules for safe surfing

• To Each Service Its Password: create a different password for each service you decide to join and update them regularly.
• Activate ‘two-factor authentication’: when you access a particular service from a new PC, you will need to enter a code on your smartphone in addition to your password.
• Cover your webcam when you’re not using it – you never know if a hacker might use it! There is also software, such as OverSight for Mac OS, which warns the user when specific processes activate the microphone and video recording.

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