It was sitting innocuously in my spam box. An email that went something like this:
I’m aware that XXXXXXX is your password.
You don’t know me and you’re thinking why you received this e mail, right?
Well, I actually placed a malware on the porn website and guess what, you visited this web site to have fun (you know what I mean). While you were watching the video, your web browser acted as a RDP (Remote Desktop) and a key logger which provided me access to your display screen and webcam. Right after that, my software gathered all your contacts from your Messenger, Facebook account, and email account.
What exactly did I do?
I made a split-screen video. First part recorded the video you were viewing (you’ve got a fine taste lolol), and next part recorded your webcam (Yep! It’s you doing nasty things!).
What should you do?
Well, I believe, $7000 is a fair price for our little secret. You’ll make the payment via Bitcoin to the below address (if you don’t know this, search “how to buy bitcoin” in Google) .
BTC Address: 1Dvd7Wb72JBTbAcfTrxSJCZZuf4tsT8V72
(It is cAsE sensitive, so copy and paste it)
Important:
You have 24 hours in order to make the payment. (I have an unique pixel within this email message, and right now I know that you have read this email). If I don’t get the payment, I will send your video to all of your contacts including relatives, coworkers, and so forth. Nonetheless, if I do get paid, I will erase the video immidiately. If you want evidence, reply with “Yup!” and I will send your video recording to your 5 friends. This is a non-negotiable offer, so don’t waste my time and yours by replying to this email
Now, I admit that just for a minute or two I was pretty freaked out. I racked my brain about any dodgy sites I might have visited. Had I accessed porn inadvertently? Had I wandered into something or somewhere illegal? I couldn’t think of any.
Then I reread the email and spotted the errors. Luckily, over the years, the company I work for has educated us on how to spot phishing emails. The first giveaway may be the way the email is addressed to you. In my case, it used just my email address. Personal huh? Then came the spelling mistakes. Not huge and not that many which is why they escaped my notice the first time. Then the various links that might take you to sites replete with malware. Avoid! Finally, the threat to expose you if you don’t comply. Again, classic extortion tactics that should be ignored. I promptly deleted the email and carried on with my day. However, it got me thinking….
How may people would fall prey to these scammers? How many people who had no technical knowledge would accept the jargon as gospel? How many would have no idea what phishing is? Enough I’m guessing for these scammers to have various permutations on the themes of extortion.This one is called ‘sextortion’ and a simple Google search would reveal that it’s been doing the rounds for a few months.
Our smart phones are as valuable to us as our homes. I don’t mean in their monetary value. I mean that they are sacrosanct. Just as a burglary of our home would be regarded as a physical and emotional violation of our space, the fact that someone somewhere can threaten that they have the ability to access our contacts, our social media and our cameras is deeply disturbing and tantamount to a similar violation.
Yet, the fact of the matter is that yes, our phones are completely hackable. Our cameras can be turned upon us. We can not just be observed we can be recorded remotely. All those smart devices we’ve voluntarily placed in our homes- our smart televisions, our Alexas are nothing but intruders of our privacy. Year after year we succumb to the lure of newer and smarter technology without comprehending just how much access we are allowing the outside world into our personal sphere.
Obviously one does not want to live in the stone age. Therefore, it is important to educate yourself and make an informed decision on just how much you want to rely on technology. Do you really want the ability to turn on your heating and lock your front door with your phone? Good for you! However, remember, someone somewhere may just love to get their hands on those codes on your phone. Do you have enough firewalls and anti-spyware installed? What’s that? Educate yourself!
Finally, on to the issue of guilt. Each of us has something to hide. Guaranteed. That is, unless you are a monk in a Buddhist monastery and have lived the purest of lives. Blackmailers tap into this guilt. Exposure of our deepest, darkest secrets is a pretty frightening prospect and the majority of us would rather pay the hush money than have ourselves exposed. When it comes to ‘sextortion’, it taps into something even more visceral. After all, our bedroom antics are no one’s business but our own.
So, when one gets an email that purports to have recorded one in a compromising position/expression it is bound to strike terror into the bravest of hearts. Who would like their silly face (read sex face) be sent out to all and sundry?
Think about it for a moment though. What does it matter? If what you are doing is not illegal, not immoral and not causing any harm, why do you care so much? Why does having sex or watching sex become this huge taboo? Sex is a part and parcel of life. It is a biological necessity and Nature’s way to ensure survival. So, why are we so afraid of being exposed as partaking in it?
My point is twofold. Firstly, if you ever receive an email such as the one above, examine it carefully and then examine your own emotions. Chances are it will be fraudulent, in which case it is best ignored. If, despite all precautions, it is not, then perhaps you need to look at whether a knee jerk reaction is the right one? The best way to combat a blackmailer is to challenge them to go through with their threat. If you have nothing to lose, they have nothing to gain. If temporary embarrassment is the only price you have to pay, isn’t it cheaper than being held to ransom indefinitely?
