Threat Database Adware 'You Have Been Hacked' Email Scam

'You Have Been Hacked' Email Scam

The 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam is a blackmail-based tactic that targets Web surfers viewing adult media websites. The letter claims that the device is experiencing ongoing surveillance from sophisticated spyware, and a video of the user's private activities will leak to the public unless they pay the ransom. This message is distributed randomly; users can ignore all claims and delete the 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam from their inboxes.

Con Artists that Capitalize on Shame for Unearned Ransoms

While Bitcoin ransoms are part-and-parcel of the booming file-locking and cryptocurrency-mining Trojan industries, criminals also can undertake Trojan-free ransoming tactics. The 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam is a late example of these attacks. The con converts shame over private, adult hobbies into blackmail and, from there, Bitcoins.

The attack begins with a randomly-distributed e-mail message. The English contents assert that the reader's device is under surveillance after an infection months ago due to an exploit embedded on an adult media website. The claim isn't technically detailed and includes some signs of blatant inaccuracy, such as describing the spyware as both a 'Trojan' and a 'virus.'

The threat actor demands a ransom to the provided wallet address (to which malware experts note various transactions but no incoming ones that match the ransom demand of 600 Euros, or 0.15 Bitcoins). Users who don't pay supposedly will have a video of their Web-browsing activities leaked to their contacts, with the implication of embarrassing or even illegal erotic content.

Malware experts find no connections between the 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam and real infection attempts, and users may safely disregard all of the claims in the message.

Some Extra Steps for E-mail Scam Prevention

Users who pay the Bitcoin ransom have no recourse for recovering their funds, other than hoping that the con artist will agree to a refund. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero are favorable payment options for many tactics, and users always should be cautious about paying them without double-checking the assertions or identities of the recipient.

Users who ignore and delete the message should be in little to no danger. However, receiving an e-mail like the 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam may indicate that the reader's e-mail address in a threat actor's possession – usually, as part of a collected database of similarly-exposed addresses. Users can reduce e-mail exposure by avoiding giving their addresses to unsafe websites and using addresses with unique, difficult-to-guess text, similar to passwords.

There are no threats related to this tactic. However, threat actors occasionally embed threatening content into e-mails, including drive-by-download exploits. For safety, users may consider scanning their devices with security solutions after they've read a 'You Have Been Hacked' email scam.

Shame is a powerful emotion and can cause humans to do things that are threatening or self-destructive for poor reasons. Instead of falling for a tactic artist's capitalization on it, stop and think about the likelihood of the claims being true before Bitcoins change hands.

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