From the days of ‘repost this or a monster will visit you tonight,’ internet scams have seriously evolved. The latest to circulate the internet is both sophisticated and scary but don’t be conned!
The scammers typically do this…
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They send you an email with one of your passwords (old and recent) in the subject line. They then tell you that they have used this password to hack into your computer and install malware that has recorded you through your webcam. They then tell you that the only way to stop them from submitting the footage to other websites or friends and family, is by transferring them Bitcoin.
But, don’t panic
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The scammers have not actually retrieved a video of you through your webcam, nor do they have access to your contacts. Database ‘leaks’ have occurred with the data stolen from sites such as LinkedIn, Yahoo and eBay in which passwords became readily available online. The attackers have then taken a password from a database that's available online and sent it to you in the hope that you will panic and send them cash. (Don’t worry, these passwords are ones you most probably haven’t used in years.)
Top Tips for Keeping Safe
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- Change your passwords regularly - make sure they are the less obvious ones (so not your furry friend’s name) with numbers and symbols.
- Download a password manager so you’re not using the same password for everything.
- Never give your credit card details to anyone over the internet.
- Always do your research and make sure the website is legitimate.
- Cover your laptop webcam with a sticker, plaster or post-it note when you’re not using it - even Mark Zuckerberg does this.
- As a rule of thumb, if it sounds too farfetched or too good to be true - it probably is.