The “I have bad news for you. 19/07/2018 – on this day I hacked your operating system” is a new highly effective email scam. This fraudulent message uses your email account name and an old password to convince you that the hacker was able to hack your operating system, get full access to your email and use you webcam to take screenshots while you watch intimate websites (porn). In order to keep this screenshots from being sent to your contacts, the criminal demands a ransom payment in bitcoins.
“I have bad news for you. 19/07/2018 – on this day I hacked your operating system” – email scam
Below is an example of one of the extortion messages being sent out. Recent versions demands $787 ransom payment.
this account has been hacked! Change all your passwords! Hello! I have bad news for you. 19/07/2018 - on this day I hacked your operating system and got full access to your account *** It is useless to change the password, my malware intercepts it every time. How it was: In the software of the router to which you were connected that day, there was a vulnerability. I first hacked this router and placed my malicious code on it. When you entered in the Internet, my trojan was installed on the operating system of your device. After that, I made a full dump of your disk (I have all your address book, history of viewing sites, all files, phone numbers and addresses of all your contacts). A month ago, I wanted to lock your device and ask for a small amount of money to unlock. But I looked at the sites that you regularly visit, and came to the big delight of your favorite resources. I'm talking about sites for adults. I want to say - you are a big, big pervert. You have unbridled fantasy!!! After that, an idea came to my mind. I made a screenshot of the intimate website where you have fun (you know what it is about, right?). After that, I made a screenshot of your joys (using the camera of your device) and joined all together. It turned out beautifully, do not doubt. I am strongly belive that you would not like to show these pictures to your relatives, friends or colleagues. I think $787 is a very small amount for my silence. Besides, I spent a lot of time on you! I accept money only in Bitcoins. My BTC wallet: 1H9bS7Zb6LEANLkM8yiF8EsoGEtMEeLFvC You do not know how to replenish a Bitcoin wallet? In any search engine write "how to send money to btc wallet". It's easier than send money to a credit card! For payment you have a little more than two days (exactly 50 hours). Do not worry, the timer will start at the moment when you open this letter. Yes, yes .. it has already started! After payment, my virus and dirty photos with you self-destruct automatically. Narrative, if I do not receive the specified amount from you, then your device will be blocked, and all your contacts will receive a photos with your "joys". I want you to be prudent. - Do not 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 feasible, I sent you an email from your account) - Various security services will not help you; formatting a disk or destroying a device will not help either, since your data is already on a remote server. P.S. I guarantee you that I will not disturb you again after payment, as you are not my single victim. This is a hacker code of honor. From now on, I advise you to use good antiviruses and update them regularly (several times a day)! Don't be mad at me, everyone has their own work. Farewell.
Don’t panic. Do not pay the ransom. This is the first and most important piece of advice we have for you!
Scammers uses the database of emails and stolen passwords to increase trust and sent this email scam out to millions of people around the World. “The messages are sent to email addresses exposed in previous known data breaches in which the user database (email address and password) was indexed online,” said Brian Krebs (editor of the KrebsOnSecurity). If the password emailed to you is one that you still use, then stop using it and change it right now!
What to do when you receive “this account has been hacked! Change all your passwords!” email scam
Here are some easy steps which you need to follow after receiving these emails.
- Do not panic.
- Do not pay the ransom.
- Do not respond to the email spam.
- Mark the email as SPAM (junk mail)
- Stop using the password that the scammer used in the email scam and change it. Make sure that you do not repeat passwords.
- Avoid clicking links in email.
- Cover over your computer’s cam and add a micblock to the microphone port.
- Report any scams like these to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- Scan your computer for viruses and malware
- Install an anti-phishing software
How to scan your PC for viruses and protect your computer from phishing scams
There are a few methods that can be used to scan your PC for viruses and protect your computer from phishing scams. Most cyber threat analysts states that Zemana Anti Malware, MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) or HitmanPro tools are a right choice. These free applications are able to scan for and remove malware from your computer and protect your computer from phishing attacks.
How to scan your PC for viruses
You can download and use the Zemana Free for free. This anti-malware tool will scan all the Microsoft Windows registry entries and files in your system along with the system settings and web browser extensions. If it finds any malicious software, adware or malicious addon then the Zemana will delete them from your personal computer completely.
Zemana AntiMalware can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
164028 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once the download is done, close all software and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup as displayed in the following example.
When the installation begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Free on your machine.
Once installation is done, you will see window as shown in the following example.
Now press the “Scan” button . Zemana Anti Malware utility will begin scanning the whole system to find out viruses, malware and other security threats. When a malware, ad-supported software or potentially unwanted apps are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
As the scanning ends, Zemana Free will display a list of detected items. Once you have selected what you want to delete from your system click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will delete virus related files, folders and registry keys.
How to stay safe online
If you surf the Net, you cannot avoid malicious advertising and phishing scams. But you can protect your browser against it. Download and run an ad-blocking program. AdGuard is an ad-blocker that can filter out a ton of of the malicious advertising, blocking dynamic scripts from loading harmful content.
- Click the link below to download AdGuard. Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the install is complete, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will run automatically and block malicious advertising and phishing scams, as well as other harmful or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which is located on your desktop.
I got the email (identical to the one above) yesterday demanding a ransom. Scammers were asking $877 in bitcoin and threatening to send to my friends.
Awesome, I got identical one, be careful.
Greetings.
Ten years ago when I was a tenager,It was side of me that took the lead to be a blackhat hacker, I hacked people,servers, hosts,etc, I don’t even know why I had that psychotic pleaser when they see that they have been hacked instead of their website’s index!!. this is shame and disgrace . It was long time ago, I feel very bad and sorry now that this is happenings to me, I didn‘t know how did they get my old password, and for a moment it was possible for me till I saw they want money,hh it was familiar, I had friends doing this… This massage remembered me that I have an apology for all those that I offended them, I am a Doctor now, my job is helping people and I hope this would be a satisfying expiation for what I did.
I found the list that they got our previous passwords from and I found 2 of my emails with old passwords there!!
You probably will find yours too, this is the list:
***.com/Documents/DATABASE/VHB.com.txt
MyAntispyware how did they gathered this list, I don’t remember that I had my email been hacked before, even though one of them is 3 letter.
Got the same one today. Weird that when I go to “Sent items”, the mail doesn’t show up there.
I got the same email yesterday and as above the email doesn’t show up in sent items either.
Abdel, is threatening was real?
Tomorow I got to similar email to my mail.
Can he get a video through my web camera and distribute it?
No worries, this fraudulent message is nothing more than a phishing scam, just ignore the scammers’ empty threats.
New variant:
This account was recently infected! Change your password right away!
You might not heard about me and you really are definitely interested for what reason you’re receiving this letter, right?
I am a hacker who burst your email box and devices some time ago. Never make an attempt to msg me or alternatively find me, it’s not possible, because I directed you this message using YOUR hacked account. I have started malware soft to the adult vids (porno) site and guess you visited this site to have some fun (you understand what I really mean). During you have been paying attention to content, your internet browser began operating like a RDP (Remote Control) with a keylogger that granted me access to your desktop and camera. Next step, my soft gathered all data. You have put passcodes on the web-sites you visited, and I already caught them.
New Bitcoin address: 169pAUDXa9VbbcrExzUThESrMnfWRL6BAh
Again new variant:
Hi, this account is now infected! It will be good idea to change your password right this moment!
You may not know anything about me and you really are certainly wondering why you’re getting this e-mail, right?
I’m ahacker who burstyour emailand OSnot so long ago.
Never try out to communicate with me or alternatively find me, it’s impossible, because I forwarded you a letter using YOUR account that I’ve hacked.
I’ve installed malware to the adult vids (porn) website and suppose you have visited this website to have some fun (you understand what I really mean).
Whilst you were taking a look at movies, your browser started out functioning like a RDP (Remote Control) that have a keylogger which provided me permission to access your display and network camera.
Afterward, my softwareobtainedall info.
You have entered passcodes on the web services you visited, and I already caught them.
My bitcoin wallet address: 1Ci1u7ymi3S4s4BTFQHpRmpMs1dU5CDDpW