How to avoid falling for scams like "Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached"

What is "Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached"?

We have inspected this email and learned that it is a fraudulent letter claiming to be from a hacker who has accessed the recipient's account and breached the online and personal security. The purpose of this email is to extract money (cryptocurrency) from unsuspecting recipients. Whoever received this email should ignore it.

More about the "Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached" scam email

This email claims that the sender (supposedly a hacker) has compromised the recipient's personal and digital security by accessing their account (the email does not mention what account exactly). The sender claims to have installed a virus that enables them to control the recipient's devices and to have created a "profile" on the recipient.

The sender demands to be paid $900 in Bitcoin and threatens to disclose the recipient's personal information and online activities if the payment is not received within 48 hours. However, all the claims made in this email are false. The sender does not have any access to the recipient's accounts or devices.

Scammers often use these tactics to create fear and urgency, hoping the recipient will react quickly without checking if the claims are true. Recipients should recognize these emails as scams and report them instead of responding or paying anything.

Threat Summary:

Name	Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached Email Scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	The sender has gained access to the recipient's account
Cyber Criminal Cryptowallet Address	bc1qu9jttguxmalfqy2eyglrs3643tps7trcasa5s8, bc1q9ac5mqcj4wj6xs4surakeu5rjxav64mw3a3gcr
Symptoms	Unauthorized online purchases, changed online account passwords, identity theft, illegal access of the computer.
Distribution methods	Deceptive emails, rogue online pop-up ads, search engine poisoning techniques, misspelled domains.
Damage	Loss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to be careful and skeptical of unexpected emails. Being aware of scam signs can help protect personal information and avoid issues like identity theft and monetary loss. It is important to note that fraudulent emails can also be used to spread malicious software.

Some examples of scam emails similar to the one described in our article are "Is Visiting A More Convenient Way To Reach", "Your System Has Been Cracked", and "You Have Been Under Surveillance".

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

When cybercriminals deliver malware via email, they send emails to trick users into downloading malicious files or opening harmful links. The files in such emails can be executable files, Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, ISO files, scripts, ZIP and RAR files, and other types. When recipients open these files, they risk infecting their computers.

For instance, opening malicious MS Office documents may not result in malware infiltration without enabling macros commands, but running malicious executables can cause immediate damage. Links in these emails may direct users to fraudulent websites intended to deceive them into downloading malware or may automatically trigger malware downloads.

How to avoid installation of malware?

Avoid opening attachments or clicking links in emails that come from unknown or unexpected sources. Carefully review emails before interacting with their content. Avoid opening suspicious websites, and do not click ads, pop-ups, buttons, or links on those sites. Only download software and files from trusted sources, and avoid using pirated software or cracking tools.

Update your operating system and applications regularly. Additionally, use a trustworthy security tool and run system scans regularly. If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached" email letter:

Hey there. I've got a story to share that's quite out of the ordinary.

27.08.2024 19:37:13 - On this day, your personal and digital security has been breached by my actions, granting unfettered access to your account. Be aware that I have been monitoring your every move with acute attention for some time.
I've installed a virus on your system that has given me the ability to control your devices, accessing key components like the display and camera. Your digital archives are now replicated on my servers.

I've managed to gather a complete profile of you.

Scanning through my observations of you, I found some interesting data.

I presume you recognize the gravity of what's now on the table between us.
If you'd rather I didn't carry this out, send 900 $ (US Dollar) in my bitcoin wallet.
My Bitcoin Wallet address:
bc1qu9jttguxmalfqy2eyglrs3643tps7trcasa5s8

If you're at a loss on how to fund a Bitcoin wallet, Google search can lead you to simple instructions.
As soon as the funds are received, I will take immediate action to remove all undesirable content. After that, we can part ways amicably. I also commit to deactivating and removing all malware from your devices. You can trust my word, as I consistently honor my commitments. This is a fair arrangement, especially considering the time I've dedicated to tracking your profile and traffic.

You are required to make the payment within 48 hours of opening this letter!

After this designated period, in the event that I do not obtain the specified sum from you, I will disclose access to your accounts and visited sites, along with personal data and edited materials, without any prior warning.

In case I do not receive the agreed-upon amount from you after this timeframe, I will share access to your accounts, visited sites, personal data, and edited videos with the public, and no warning will be given.

Writing back to me is a pointless endeavor, as I don't communicate through personal email, and I won't be reviewing any replies
Best of luck, and don't allow this to frustrate you! Everyone has their own responsibilities, and today just happened to be your turn.

P.S. For the future, I recommend that you observe internet safety guidelines and steer clear of dubious websites.

Another example of an email from "Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached" spam campaign:

Text presented within:

Hello. There's something I need to share that's quite serious.

24.10.2024 04:11:43 - On this day, be aware that your device's operating system has been compromised, and I now possess full access to your account. My eyes have been prying into your digital affairs for a considerable length of time.

Your system has been hacked with a virus, giving me access to your devices' controllers like the display and camera. I have synchronized your information, including browsing history and photos, to my servers.

Over time, I've built a complete profile of you from the data.

In my watch over you, I've come across something quite peculiar.

Considering our mutual understanding, I'm sure you can foresee the necessary course of action.
If you'd rather I didn't carry this out, send 1100 $ (Dollar US in my bitcoin wallet).
My BTC address:
bc1q9ac5mqcj4wj6xs4surakeu5rjxav64mw3a3gcr

For those unsure about funding a Bitcoin wallet, Google can be used to find detailed funding instructions.
Once the funds arrive, I will promptly address the removal of undesirable material. Subsequently, we can disengage from one another. I also pledge to deactivate and remove any malware from your devices. Trust in my word, for I consistently fulfill my commitments. This is a reasonable deal, especially considering the time and energy I've invested in monitoring your profile and traffic.

You have exactly two days (48 hours) from the time this letter is opened to make the payment!

After this allotted time, if I don't receive the specified payment from you, I will expose your accounts, visited websites, personal information, and edited materials to the public without any prior notice.

After this designated time, if I don't receive the specified sum from you, I will release access to your accounts and visited websites, personal data, and edited videos to the public without prior notice.

Writing back to me is a fruitless endeavor, as I don't communicate through personal email, and I won't be reviewing any replies
Wishing you the best of luck and advising you not to get frustrated! Remember, every person has their own job to do, and today, you've encountered a difficult one.

In the days ahead, I suggest that you keep to online safety rules and avoid questionable websites.

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Quick menu:

• What is Personal And Digital Security Has Been Breached scam?
• Types of malicious emails.
• How to spot a malicious email?
• What to do if you fell for an email scam?

Types of malicious emails:

Phishing Emails

Most commonly, cybercriminals use deceptive emails to trick Internet users into giving away their sensitive private information, for example, login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information.

Such attacks are called phishing. In a phishing attack, cybercriminals usually send an email message with some popular service logo (for example, Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix), create urgency (wrong shipping address, expired password, etc.), and place a link which they hope their potential victims will click on.

After clicking the link presented in such email message, victims are redirected to a fake website that looks identical or extremely similar to the original one. Victims are then asked to enter their password, credit card details, or some other information that gets stolen by cybercriminals.

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Another popular attack vector is email spam with malicious attachments that infect users' computers with malware. Malicious attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

In such attacks, cybercriminals' main goal is to trick their potential victims into opening an infected email attachment. To achieve this goal, email messages usually talk about recently received invoices, faxes, or voice messages.

If a potential victim falls for the lure and opens the attachment, their computers get infected, and cybercriminals can collect a lot of sensitive information.

While it's a more complicated method to steal personal information (spam filters and antivirus programs usually detect such attempts), if successful, cybercriminals can get a much wider array of data and can collect information for a long period of time.

Sextortion Emails

This is a type of phishing. In this case, users receive an email claiming that a cybercriminal could access the webcam of the potential victim and has a video recording of one's masturbation.

To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom (usually using Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency). Nevertheless, all of these claims are false - users who receive such emails should ignore and delete them.

How to spot a malicious email?

While cyber criminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

• Check the sender's ("from") email address: Hover your mouse over the "from" address and check if it's legitimate. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft, be sure to check if the email address is @microsoft.com and not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com, @microsfot.com, @account-security-noreply.com, etc.
• Check for generic greetings: If the greeting in the email is "Dear user", "Dear @youremail.com", "Dear valued customer", this should raise suspiciousness. Most commonly, companies call you by your name. Lack of this information could signal a phishing attempt.
• Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link presented in the email, if the link that appears seems suspicious, don't click it. For example, if you received an email from Microsoft and the link in the email shows that it will go to firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0... you shouldn't trust it. It's best not to click any links in the emails but to visit the company website that sent you the email in the first place.
• Don't blindly trust email attachments: Most commonly, legitimate companies will ask you to log in to their website and to view any documents there; if you received an email with an attachment, it's a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application. Infected email attachments are a common attack vector used by cybercriminals.

To minimise the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows. 

Example of a spam email:

What to do if you fell for an email scam?

• If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password - be sure to change your password as soon as possible. Usually, cybercriminals collect stolen credentials and then sell them to other groups that use them for malicious purposes. If you change your password in a timely manner, there's a chance that criminals won't have enough time to do any damage.
• If you entered your credit card information - contact your bank as soon as possible and explain the situation. There's a good chance that you will need to cancel your compromised credit card and get a new one.
• If you see any signs of identity theft - you should immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission. This institution will collect information about your situation and create a personal recovery plan.
• If you opened a malicious attachment - your computer is probably infected, you should scan it with a reputable antivirus application. For this purpose, we recommend using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows.
• Help other Internet users - report phishing emails to Anti-Phishing Working Group, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, National Fraud Information Center and U.S. Department of Justice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

You likely received this email because it was sent to a large list of recipients in an attempt to scam individuals. In other words, scammers did not target you specifically.

I have provided my personal information when tricked by this email, what should I do?

If you have disclosed your login details, make sure to change all affected passwords. If you have shared other personal information, like credit card numbers or ID card details, reach out to the relevant authorities as soon as you can.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to an email, is my computer infected?

If the file you opened is executable, your system is likely compromised. However, if it is a document (such as a PDF or DOC file), you may have avoided the attack, as simply opening such documents does not always lead to malware infiltration.

Was my computer actually hacked and does the sender have any information?

No, your computer was not actually hacked or infected. Often, these messages are designed to scare you into taking action without confirming their legitimacy.

I have sent cryptocurrency to the address presented in such email, can I get my money back?

Unfortunately, once cryptocurrency is sent, it is usually irreversible, and it is unlikely that you can recover your funds.

I have read the email but did not open the attachment, is my computer infected?

Your computer will not be infected if you only read the email without opening the attachment or clicking on any links.

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections that were present in email attachment?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is effective at identifying and removing almost all known malware. It is important to remember that sophisticated malware can hide deeply within your system, which is why conducting a full system scan is required to ensure complete detection and elimination.

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