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Geeky stuff

How can someone know my computer password and email it to me?

6 replies

Dinosaursarereal · 15/07/2018 10:07

I have name changed for this, as it is embarrassing......

I have a yahoo email account that have been using for years, and gets full of spam/marketing emails, plus a few contacts each week from friends or websites that I have items ordered from.

This morning, as I was clearing down the spam emails (that hadn't gone to my spam folder) there was an email that had my computer password in its title. I opened the email and 'he' is trying to get me to transfer bitcoin payments to an account - if i don't, he will circulate an incriminating video to all of my email contacts.

Normally I would totally ignore and delete such blatant rubbish emails - and I have no intention of making any payment to him!!

However - it concerns me how he has got my computer password details??

The email references the fact that I browsed an adult site one day last week, and I did watch a video for around 5 mins. The email states that whilst I was doing that, a keyboard logger was loaded onto my computer, and also that my laptop camera was used to record 'my activities' - it I don't make a payment then both the video of myself and the video that I was watching will be circulated to my contacts list (allegedly).

I have this morning loaded and used a 'clean up' software app onto my Mac, and I have changed my yahoo email password. I will now go and change my computer log in password.

I mostly think that this is is absolutely nothing to worry about - the chances of any email being sent out to my contacts list is minimal. (I hope?!).

However, should I be worried? What other steps should I be taking to make sure that there isn't anything untoward loaded onto my computer? It's a Mac, in case that matters?

Any guidance would be appreciated........

OP posts:
Dinosaursarereal · 15/07/2018 10:14

Just to add, I am currently running an anti-virus malware remover app too.

OP posts:
ReginaldMolehusband · 15/07/2018 10:39

Have seen reports on Twitter about this scam. Seems to be linked to a list of email addresses/passwords obtained a few years ago so no malware involved, just a rip off of an episode of Black Mirror.

Dinosaursarereal · 15/07/2018 10:42

Great - so just very bad timing then that I happened to view an adult sire last week then?!

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StarbucksSmarterSister · 15/07/2018 10:58

I get those sent to my work e mail address (minus the password). Any remotely dodgy sites are blocked by our IT department, not that I've ever looked at internet porn anyway, so I know it's bullshit. I just report them.

It''s almost certainly coincidence.

ReginaldMolehusband · 15/07/2018 11:02

Here's the latest on this krebsonsecurity.com/2018/07/sextortion-scam-uses-recipients-hacked-passwords/ , nothing to worry about, just coincidence.

Dinosaursarereal · 15/07/2018 16:14

Thanks!

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