Avoid getting scammed by emails claiming your system was infected by RDP

What kind of email is "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol"?

After reading this "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" spam email, we determined that it is promoting a sextortion scam.

In these types of messages, scammers claim to have infected the recipients' devices and recorded a compromising video of them watching adult-oriented content. Recipients are then demanded to pay the senders to prevent the recordings from being leaked.

It must be emphasized that all the claims made by sextortion scam emails are false; hence, this mail poses no threat to the recipients.

"Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" email scam overview

The spam email with the subject "Your time is almost up." (may vary) informs the recipient that their device was infected when they visited a compromised website hosting adult-oriented content. The infection was facilitated by RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

The infiltrated malware was used to monitor the victim's browsing activity and collect data. The software was also utilized to record audio/video via the microphone and camera of the user and take snapshots of their screen while they were watching pornography.

The footage and screenshots were edited into a video that is supposedly in the sender's possession. The message instructs the recipient to pay 990 USD in Bitcoin cryptocurrency, and if they ignore these demands – the video will be sent to their contacts (including family, friends, colleagues, etc.).

As mentioned in the introduction, the information in this email is false. This means that none of the recipient's devices were infected by the sender, nor do they possess any compromising footage. Therefore, this spam email poses no actual threat.

It is pertinent to mention that paying sextortion scammers leads to irreparable financial loss, as cryptocurrency transactions cannot be reversed due to their nearly untraceable nature.

Threat Summary:

Name	"Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" sextortion scam
Threat Type	Phishing, Scam, Social Engineering, Fraud
Fake Claim	The sender made an explicit video using malware, and they will send it to the recipient's contacts unless they are paid.
Cyber Criminal Cryptowallet Address	1KKo7QtKcWwFLXEiRh8xmGGv3MbBjn7LzC (Bitcoin)
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.

Sextortion scam campaign examples

We have written about thousands of spam campaigns; "I've Got Access To Your Smartphone", "Is Visiting A More Convenient Way To Reach", "Malware On Porn Website", and "You Are One Of A Kind" are just some of our articles on sextortion emails.

Various scams are endorsed via spam mail, including phishing, advance fee, technical support, lottery, refund, and so on. These emails are also used to distribute all kinds of malware.

Spam mail is often poorly put together and riddled with grammatical/spelling mistakes, but it can be competently crafted and even believably disguised as messages from genuine entities (e.g., companies, organizations, service providers, authorities, etc.).

Due to how prevalent this mail is and how well-made it can be – we highly recommend vigilance with incoming emails, PMs/DMs, SMSes, and other messages.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam campaigns spread malware through malicious files distributed as attachments or download links. These files can be archives (RAR, ZIP, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), documents (PDF, Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, etc.), JavaScript, and so on.

Once an infectious file is opened, the infection chain is triggered. Some formats need extra interaction to initiate malware download/installation. For example, Microsoft Office files require users to enable macro commands (i.e., editing/content), while OneNote documents need them to click embedded links or files.

How to avoid installation of malware?

It is important to exercise caution with incoming emails, DMs/PMs, SMSes, and other messages. Mail attachments and links can be harmful or malicious – therefore, do not open/click those discovered in suspicious/irrelevant messages.

It must be mentioned that malware is distributed using various techniques. Hence, be careful while browsing since the Internet is rife with deceptive and dangerous content.

Additionally, download only from official and trustworthy sources. Activate and update software using legitimate functions/tools, as illegal product activation ("cracking") tools and third-party updates can contain malware.

It is essential for device/user safety to have a dependable anti-virus installed and kept up-to-date. Security software must be used to perform regular system scans and to remove detected threats and issues. If you've already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" spam email letter:

Subject: Your time is almost up.

Hello dear,
There is no reason to relax at all but you don’t need to panic and have to read my message carefully.
It is really important, moreover, it’s crucial for you.

Joking aside, I mean it. you don’t know who I am but I am more than familiar with you.
Probably, now the only question that torments your mind is how, am I correct?
well, your internet behavior was very indiscreet and I’m pretty sure, you know it well. So do I.

you were browsing embarrassing videos, clicking unsafe links and visiting websites that no ordinary man would visit.
I secretly embedded malware into an adult site, and you unknowingly wandered right into it. Just like a blind kitten,
you didn’t know the danger that was just near you.

while you were busy with your suspicious Internet activity, your system was breached by Remote Desktop Protocol, granting me unrestricted access to your device.
From that moment, I received the ability to observe everything happening on your screen, and discreetly activate your camera and microphone, and you wouldn’t even realize it.
Thank you, I know, I am a smart guy.
Since then and until now I have been monitoring your internet activities.
Honestly, I was pretty upset with the things I saw.

 

I was daring to delve far beyond into your digital footprint-call it excessive curiosity, if you will.
The result? An extensive stash of sensitive data extracted from your device, every corner of your web activity examined with scientific precision.
To make matters more... intriguing, I’ve saved these recordings-clips that capture you partaking in, let’s say, pretty controversial moments within the privacy of your home.

These videos and snapshots are damningly clear: one side reveals the content you were watching, and the other...
well, it features you in situations we both know you wouldn’t want to be published for public viewing.
Suffice it to say, I have all the pieces of the puzzle-images, recordings, and details of the far too vivid pictures.
Pictures you definitely wouldn’t want anyone else to see.

However, with just a single click, I could reveal this to every contact you have-no exceptions, no filters.
Now you are hoping for a rescue, I understand. But let me be clear: don’t expect any mercy or second chances from me.
Now, here’s the deal: I’m offering you a way out. Two choices, and what happens next depends entirely on your decision.

 

Option One: Pretend this message doesn’t exist. Ignore me, and you’ll quickly discover the consequences of that choice.
The video will be shared with your entire network. your colleagues, friends, and family will have front-row seats to a spectacle you’d rather they never saw.
Imagine their reactions. Holy shit, what an embarrassment! well, actions have consequences. Don’t play the victim-this is on you.

Option Two: Pay me to keep this matter buried.
Consider it a privacy fee-a small price to ensure your secrets remain where they belong: hidden.
Here’s how it works: once I receive the payment, I’ll erase everything. No leaks. No traces. your life continues as if nothing ever happened. The payment must be made in cryptocurrency-no exceptions.
I’m aiming for a resolution that works for us both, but let me emphasize: my terms are final and non-negotiable.

990 USD to my Bitcoin address below (remove any spaces): 1KKo 7QtKcW wFLXEiRh 8xmGG v3MbBjn 7LzC

Appearance of the "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" spam email (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" sextortion 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?

Regardless of any relevant information that spam emails may include, they are not personal. Thousands of users receive identical or incredibly similar messages as cyber criminals send them in massive campaigns with the hopes that at least some recipients will fall for their scams.

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

No, all the claims made by sextortion scam emails are false. This means that the sender has not infected your device with malware, nor do they have any compromising content featuring you in their possession.

How did cyber criminals get my email password?

Spam emails can be sent from the recipient's account to create an impression of legitimacy (e.g., to strengthen the false claims of hacking the victim's device). Log-in credentials can be obtained through phishing scams. These schemes involve sites or files typically disguised as sign-in pages that can record entered information; they are often promoted through spam campaigns. The least likely scenario is cyber criminals acquiring the credentials through a data breach on your or a service provider's end.

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

No, these transactions cannot be reversed due to their nearly untraceable nature. Therefore, victims of scam mail like "Your System Was Breached By Remote Desktop Protocol" cannot recover their funds.

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

If you have disclosed your log-in credentials – immediately change the passwords of all potentially exposed accounts and inform their official support. However, if you've provided other private data (e.g., ID card details, passport scans, credit card numbers, etc.) – contact the corresponding authorities without delay.

I have read a spam email but didn't open the attachment, is my computer infected?

No, merely reading an email poses no infection threat. Systems are compromised when malicious attachments or links are opened/clicked.

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

If the opened file was an executable – most likely, yes – your device was infected. However, you might have avoided this if it was a document. These formats may require additional actions to begin downloading/installing malware (e.g., enabling macro commands, clicking embedded content, etc.).

Will Combo Cleaner remove malware infections present in email attachments?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can detect and remove practically all known malware infections. Note that high-end malicious software tends to hide deep within systems – therefore, performing a complete system scan is paramount.

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