An email says a hacker recorded you through your webcam and will send the video to everyone you know unless you pay. It even includes your real password. It’s a bluff. Here’s how it works.
The email is terrifying. A “hacker” says they took over your computer, recorded you through your webcam at an embarrassing moment, and have your contact list. Pay in Bitcoin within 48 hours, or the video goes to everyone you know.
And then the scary part: the email includes one of your real passwords. Sometimes even a photo of your house.
It’s a bluff built from a scrapbook of leaked data. That old password came from a data breach, and the house photo came from a map website. Nobody watched you.
The same email goes out to millions of people at once. The sender is betting that a few will panic and pay.
Want peace of mind anyway? A little sticker or sliding cover over your webcam costs a couple of dollars. But this email isn’t a reason to panic. It’s a reason to update an old password.
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