ANOTHER WARNING about Scams.
I recently received a Scam Email trying blackmail to extort money.
It starts like this:
Hi. How are you?
I know, it’s unpleasant to start the conversation with bad news, but I have no choice.
Few months ago, I have gained access to your devices that used by you for internet browsing.
Afterwards, I could track down all your internet activities.
Here is the history of how it could become possible:
At first, I purchased from hackers the access to multiple email accounts (nowadays, it is a really simple thing to do online).
As result, I could easily log in to your email account (one of my email addresses).
One week later, I installed Trojan virus in Operating Systems of all devices of yours, which you use to open email.
Frankly speaking, it was rather straightforward (since you were opening the links from your inbox emails).
Everything ingenious is quite simple. ……
AND SO ON …. It goes on to claim that it has evidence of access to porn sites:
As I was gathering information about you, I couldn’t help but notice that you are also a true fan of adult-content websites.
You actually love visiting porn sites and browsing through kinky videos, while pleasuring yourself.
And then demands money not to release this information.
WHATEVER YOU DO – DON’T FALL FOR IT. Note it as Spam/Junk and then delete it.
This is a link to the Australian Government site https://www.cyber.gov.au/acsc/view-all-content/alerts/sextortion-email-campaign-impacting-australians
Also this is a good YouTube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9CYBP_yfXM
I note that the YouTube video is sponsored by a Password Manager (Last Pass). A password manager is essential these days – as is two factor authorisation / identification (2FA)
ALSO DO NOT RE-USE PASSWORDS.
The following is a list of some Password Managers (I am not recommending any – do your own research)
Last Pass https://www.lastpass.com/
1 Password https://1password.com/
Bitwarden https://bitwarden.com/
Dashlane https://www.dashlane.com/
RoboForm https://www.roboform.com/
AND IF ALL of your devices are MAC/APPLE, Keychain is a very good password manager and comes free with Apple devices. Browsers also have password managers BUT all the experts say to get a separate password manager that works everywhere.
CNET has a good article here https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/best-password-manager/
OR Tom’s Guide https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-password-managers,review-3785.html