Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Frightening email

Options
  • 07-05-2019 10:42am
    #1
    fran38
    Registered Users Posts: 530 ✭✭✭


    Just got an email this morning. From some fella who says he has inserted a RAT (Remote Access Trojan) malware into my laptop and now has access to all of my ahem 'activity'. If i dont pay a certain amount in bitcoin all of thay activity will be shared amongst my contacts. He showed me an old password i used for my email.
    How worried should i be ?


Comments

  • Options
    #2
    ASOT
    Registered Users Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭ASOT


    fran38 wrote: »
    Just got an email this morning. From some fella who says he has inserted a RAT (Rote Access Trojan) malware into my laptop and now has access to all of my ahem 'activity'. If i dont pay a certain amount in bitcoin all of thay acyivity will be sharrd amongst my contacts. He showed me an old password i used for my email.
    How worried shoild i be ?

    It's a scam, don't be worried at all.


  • Options
    #3
    the whole year inn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,099 ✭✭✭the whole year inn


    fran38 wrote: »
    Just got an email this morning. From some fella who says he has inserted a RAT (Rote Access Trojan) malware into my laptop and now has access to all of my ahem 'activity'. If i dont pay a certain amount in bitcoin all of thay acyivity will be sharrd amongst my contacts. He showed me an old password i used for my email.
    How worried shoild i be ?

    So you were on porn sites or what? You could just format and reinstall windows and change all passwords.


  • Options
    #4
    TomSweeney
    Registered Users Posts: 3,213 ✭✭✭TomSweeney


    Seriously, it is a scam, I get the emails all the time, and it pisses me off to see when I check the bitcoin wallet these pricks actually make money !!!

    delete the email.


  • Options
    #5
    TomSweeney
    Registered Users Posts: 3,213 ✭✭✭TomSweeney


    fran38 wrote: »
    Just got an email this morning. From some fella who says he has inserted a RAT (Remote Access Trojan) malware into my laptop and now has access to all of my ahem 'activity'. If i dont pay a certain amount in bitcoin all of thay activity will be shared amongst my contacts. He showed me an old password i used for my email.
    How worried should i be ?


    Was the password correct ?

    They did the same with me and of course the password was just random bull****...


  • Options
    #6
    fran38
    Registered Users Posts: 530 ✭✭✭fran38


    ASOT wrote: »
    It's a scam, don't be worried at all.

    Ok , but how did this fella get hold of an old password?


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #7
    fran38
    Registered Users Posts: 530 ✭✭✭fran38


    TomSweeney wrote: »
    Was the password correct ?

    They did the same with me and of course the password was just random bull****...

    It was correct albeit a couple of years old.


  • Options
    #8
    ASOT
    Registered Users Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭ASOT


    fran38 wrote: »
    Ok , but how did this fella get hold of an old password?

    Your details were probably obtained when a site you used previous was hacked. Pop your email in here and see - https://haveibeenpwned.com

    It's a know scam you have nothing to worry about.


  • Options
    #9
    Pawwed Rig
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 22,379 CMod ✭✭✭✭Pawwed Rig


    fran38 wrote: »
    It was correct albeit a couple of years old.

    Probably one of the many data breaches from large companies. Wouldn't worry about it if you have changed password since.


  • Options
    #10
    Seth Brundle
    Moderators, Politics Moderators Posts: 39,750 Mod ✭✭✭✭Seth Brundle


    TomSweeney wrote: »
    Was the password correct ?

    They did the same with me and of course the password was just random bull****...
    They get passwords taken from previous web hacks and use them on the assumption that people use the same password on multiple sites.
    It's a complete blackmail scam (but a scam nonetheless) and hopefully the people responsible get stung by a thousand wasps!
    They have nothing on the OP but the OP should be more careful about using the same password on different sites and should also get into the habit of changing passwords frequently.


  • Options
    #11
    super_furry
    Registered Users Posts: 27,322 ✭✭✭✭super_furry


    Probably some old password dump from a couple of years back. Sign up with haveibeenpwned.com and they'll let you know from where and when they got your password.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #12
    fran38
    Registered Users Posts: 530 ✭✭✭fran38


    ASOT wrote: »
    Your details were probably obtained when a site you used previous was hacked. Pop your email in here and see - https://haveibeenpwned.com

    It's a know scam you have nothing to worry about.

    Just tried yhat. Eight sites that i use is compromised apparantly.


  • Options
    #13
    ASOT
    Registered Users Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭ASOT


    fran38 wrote: »
    Just tried yhat. Eight sites that i use is compromised apparantly.

    You'v nothing to worry about, I'd also change your passwords on those sites if you haven't already.


  • Options
    #14
    TomSweeney
    Registered Users Posts: 3,213 ✭✭✭TomSweeney


    ^^ as mentioned OP, just change your passwd on those sites, sorry to repeat myself but DON'T PAY THE F*CKERS MONEY!!!!


  • Options
    #15
    the whole year inn
    Registered Users Posts: 7,099 ✭✭✭the whole year inn


    How much were they asking for?


  • Options
    #16
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Known scam.


  • Options
    #17
    Xterminator
    Registered Users Posts: 4,739 ✭✭✭Xterminator


    it is a good reminder not to use the same password across different websites.


  • Options
    #18
    antix80
    Registered Users Posts: 2,419 ✭✭✭antix80


    I got this ridiculous email recently


    Fwd: Important information about your account: [email]



    [/email]
    Forwarded message


    Hello!

    This is important information for you!

    Some months ago I hacked your OS and got full access to your account
    Xxx
    On day of hack your account xxx
    has password:

    So, you can change the password, yes.. Or already changed... But my
    malware intercepts it every time.

    How I made it:
    In the software of the router, through which you went online, was a
    vulnerability. I used it...
    If you interested you can read about it: xxx-xxxx-xxxx - a
    vulnerability in the web-based management interface of the Cisco
    routers.
    I just hacked this router and placed my malicious code on it.
    When you went online, my trojan was installed on the OS of your device.

    After that, I made a full backup 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 not big amount
    of btc to unlock.
    But I looked at the sites that you regularly visit, and I was shocked
    by what I saw!!!
    I'm talk you about sites for adults.

    I want to say - you are a BIG pervert. Your fantasy is shifted far
    away from the normal course!

    And I got an idea....
    I made a screenshot of the adult sites where you have fun (do you
    understand what it is about, huh?).
    After that, I made a screenshot of your joys (using the camera of your
    device) and glued them together.
    Turned out amazing! You are so spectacular!

    I'm know that you would not like to show these screenshots to your
    friends, relatives or colleagues.
    I think $xxx is a very, very small amount for my silence.
    Besides, I have been spying on you for so long, having spent a lot of time!

    Pay ONLY in Bitcoins!
    My BTC wallet: xxxxxxx

    You do not know how to use bitcoins?
    Enter a query in any search engine: "how to replenish btc wallet".
    It's extremely easy

    For this payment I give you two days (48 hours).
    As soon as this letter is opened, the timer will work.

    After payment, my virus and dirty screenshots with your enjoys will be
    self-destruct automatically.
    If I do not receive from you the specified amount, then your device
    will be locked, and all your contacts will receive a screenshots with
    your "enjoys".

    I hope you understand your situation.
    - Do not try to find and destroy my virus! (All your data, files and
    screenshots is already uploaded to a remote server)
    - Do not try to contact me (you yourself will see that this is
    impossible, the sender address is automatically generated)
    - Various security services will not help you; formatting a disk or
    destroying a device will not help, since your data is already on a
    remote server.

    P.S. You are not my single victim. so, I guarantee you that I will not
    disturb you again after payment!
    This is the word of honor hacker

    I also ask you to regularly update your antiviruses in the future.
    This way you will no longer fall into a similar situation.

    Do not hold evil! I just good do my job.
    Good luck.


  • Options
    #19
    antix80
    Registered Users Posts: 2,419 ✭✭✭antix80


    Just to note the password in the email i received was blank, he hadn't even filled out an old password.


  • Options
    #20
    NSAman
    Registered Users Posts: 3,433 ✭✭✭NSAman


    Don’t worry about it, only the likes of Kim Kardashian made money out of a sex tape. I doubt people will be looking at you chocking your chicken... but you never know, you could make some money off it and be a star if the video is funny..:)


  • Options
    #21
    Harry Palmr
    Closed Accounts Posts: 40,061 ✭✭✭✭Harry Palmr


    One of my email accounts (an old almost dormant one at this stage) gets one of these every week or so. Apparently I have a webcam on my coal powered PC and have been remotely recorded jacking off to donkey pron.


  • Advertisement
  • Options
    #22
    ForestFire
    Registered Users Posts: 2,374 ✭✭✭ForestFire


    Tell them you not sure what these Bitcoins are.....but you have some only Irish penny's you can put in a envelope and post it too them if they would be so kind as to forward there address.


  • Options
    #23
    ancapailldorcha
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 38,737 CMod ✭✭✭✭ancapailldorcha


    That's a scam. It can look threatening but if they had anything, they'd send you a copy. You're safe.

    The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

    Leviticus 19:34



  • Options
    #24
    KerryGoat
    Closed Accounts Posts: 139 ✭✭KerryGoat


    Highly likely you are fine. Check have have i been pwned - as another user suggested - and compared the password the "hacker" gave you to the passwords you used for those websites that were hacked.


  • Options
    #25
    gozunda
    Registered Users Posts: 18,996 ✭✭✭✭gozunda


    Probably some poor international diplomat that has fallen on hard times and is now forced to ask others for money :pac:


  • Options
    #26
    jme2010
    Registered Users Posts: 974 ✭✭✭jme2010


    password_strength-4f60fa9-intro.png

    I completed a 1 year h.dip in cyber security and it made me paranoid as hell.

    One of the modules was around encryption/decryption, brute force etc and this picture was circulated around.

    If you can force your IT admins in your workplace to throw out these ridiculous password requirements we'd all be safer.

    I use a pass phrase in all my major accounts now, usually 3-4 words each separated by a space, which a lot of people do not know you can have in your password and makes it extremely more difficult to guess.

    To make it even easier to remember you could pick a fixed first word that is capitalized (to meet pw requirements)
    then add a space, then the second word could be the name of the service you are using so you can remember it easily.
    then add another space and this third word could be random nonsensical and not usually a dictionary word but is also easy to remember.

    I feel confident that if it was leaked it would not be used anywhere else.

    Example not used for Boards.ie could be:

    [fixed] . [sevice name] . [wacky word]
    Mickey boards floorboards


  • Options
    #27
    BorneTobyWilde
    Registered Users Posts: 36,079 ✭✭✭✭BorneTobyWilde


    Everyone has watched porn on the internet, so what. I don't see why you'd give a dam, as we all know you watch porn, and so does the next guy and so does the next guy.
    Boring....


  • Options
    #28
    ASOT
    Registered Users Posts: 7,735 ✭✭✭ASOT


    BorneTobyWilde wrote: »
    Everyone has watched porn on the internet, so what. I don't see why you'd give a dam, as we all know you watch porn, and so does the next guy and so does the next guy.
    Boring....

    The scam is they say they have videos of you playing with yourself. Everyone watches porn but I doubt everyone goes around showing videos of themselves **** watching it.


  • Options
    #29
    FaganJr
    Registered Users Posts: 585 ✭✭✭FaganJr


    Ask him will he take a book of butter vouchers by registered post??


  • Options
    #30
    FanadMan
    Registered Users Posts: 3,820 ✭✭✭FanadMan


    ASOT wrote: »
    The scam is they say they have videos of you playing with yourself. Everyone watches porn but I doubt everyone goes around showing videos of themselves **** watching it.

    They could hack my laptop to watch me pulling myself. But the last time I dismantled my laptop, I forgot to reconnect the webcam. And I'm not going to bother taking it apart again to connect something I don't use :D

    Come to think of it, I think I only used the webcam maybe 5 times.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement