Email from random saying they know my password AND THEY DO. What next?!

[Reastie]

I’ve just had an email (unopened, just say the notification) saying they know my password and then wrote it and it is one of the old passwords I used to use. Presumably they have hacked into a site somewhere where I used it as a password. It’s no longer a password for any banking or money or email or work sites but may be log in for older shopping accounts etc I have set up before arranging a more fail safe individual password for each site with cloud chain.

The notification then said Andrew I have seen you through your webcam watch xxx porn...’ and then the notification stopped and I haven’t clicked on the email.

This isn’t the case because I’m the only one who uses my phone and iPad where I’m logged into email and I haven’t done this. Presumably they’re trying to scare someone that they have footage of them watching porn (which I have no fear of as it’s not happened). The password thing does scare me though. Should I be worried? Should I delete without reading? Is there anything I should do to secure myself more than I am?

Apple products do need an anti virus.
I know for sure after I managed to get a virus within two hours of starting to use my Mac.

It’s a scam. Watching adult porn isn’t illegal, anyway, is it.

I've had this email a few times - very smug in tone, something like "well, we all know what kind of adult entertainment you are into - wonder if your colleagues would like to know what you are watching online?" referring to porn. then asking for bitcoins.

As others have said, change PPs and move on - do not open any links. Try not to stress too much. These scams will be rife (even more rife) during lockdown as the scammers will know lots of people are online more of the time and also that most of us are feeling a bit anxious so they are tapping into our uncertainty and insecurity at the moment.

Just delete the thing and forget about it.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

They don't threaten to tell the police, they threaten to show videos of you wanting porn (and presumably wanking) to all your contacts unless you pay up.

Who they think would be even vaguely interested in seeing someone getting off to porn in their own homes I don't know, but I presume a lot of people are sensitive enough to pay up, otherwise they wouldn't keep sending the spam.

I've had a few of these and they did have one password correct (which I changed pdq). They threatened to publish my internet history - I figured hours on Mumsnet, Pinterest and googling gum disease was not going to particularly compromise me should it go public.....

I had exactly the same thing a few months ago. I just deleted the email and I heard nothing more.

I’ve had this email, except it went one further and appeared to come from my own email account! It was really nasty, claiming to have video of me watching porn and threats to share with everyone I know. I knew it was a scam but can imagine this is very scary for some.

The password they provided was a password I didn’t use any more and on further checks I’m confident this was obtained through a data breach a few years ago.

Made me change all my passwords again though.

I had this a few months ago, and I have a Macbook!
Clear all your browser histories/cache, install an anti virus and THEN change your passwords. To everything!

BTW, I’ve never watched porn on my device so wasn’t worried about the threat!

I keep getting the same.
My best guess is one site where I used it (it's one of my old "non secure password" which doesn't even include numbers or characters or any additional features) got breached.
In any case, good luck getting footage of me looking at a porn site.

So, I don't think it was an issue with your security, but, obviously change important passwords frequently.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/beatthescammers/article-6298379/amp/Pay-ransom-watch-wreck-life-Computer-menace-driving-victims-suicide.html

Really nasty

I got it too, on my work email! Last August and then exactly 3 months later! I did nothing except, delete and change passwords.

Also start using a password protected system like lastpass, it generates complex passwords for you, but you only have to remember 1 master password and we use a 2 device authentication, so use it on my laptop and then I have an app on my phone for the changing code.

It is incredibly safe. Dh is in IT and security features heavily in his day to day job, he also listens to IT securtity podcasts Lastpass is highly recommended and so simple an idiot like me can use it.

Seriously, just delete and ignore
My DH got one, he’s an IT consultant with very good security on his computer, when he got the email he ran loads of checks and said there was no spyware or anything on there. The password they mentioned was a very old one he’s hadn’t used for ages and was most likely from when he bought something online at some point

I've had this. Ignored it and nothing happened.

Change your Apple ID, reboot your apple devices then change all your other passwords.

This happened to me. Also check that you haven’t had your amazon account hacked at the same time. A small order will go through first, then passwords and new addresses set up and more expensive things ordered.

Resetting Apple ID password is the key.

Oh I’ve had this multiple times. The flaw In their nefarious plan is that I don’t watch porn, wank in front of it or have any spare £££s.

Delete and move on, perhaps someone with the exact same name as you has inherited millions and just needs your bank details to get at the cash....better pay up or they will DELETE YOUR INTERNET.

Thieves are often idiotic.

Just delete the email it’s a scam.

You can buy lists of passwords on the dark web For a few dollars, mine was on there from the curry/pc world data breach. My advice to everyone is change passwords frequently, don’t assume that smart phones and tablets are safe. Mobile cybercrime is up massively.

Get some security on all your devices. Zone alarm or similar is cheap and aimed at the consumer sector.

Hi had exactly the same one a few months ago. The threat was meaningless because clearly I hadn’t been doing naughty things in front of my web cam.. but they did mention a password I used. I spent a fun afternoon changing all of my passwords to be sure.

I got it too yesterday evening - it really unsettled me because the password was a correct (albeit out of date).

I've had this too. They had an old password of mine, that I knew had already been compromised. It says something like "that's some weird stuff you're into, but whatever floats your boat" and then demands payment or they'll send the footage to all the people in your address book.

Obviously knew it was fake, not least because I don't watch porn - weird or otherwise. Just deleted it - but I can see that it might sound convincing to some people. Wasn't this done in a Black Mirror episode too?

Had thus to my work email which I only access there. So I know for a fact I didn’t watch porn and pleasure myself in the open plan office

It’s definitely a scam. I’ve had it and you don’t need anti virus for Apple

I got the same yesterday. They wanted 15k...except I haven't watched any porn