Yellowstone Computing
(715)-669-6136
  • Home
  • Services
  • Support
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • About
  • Reviews
  • Repairs

Don't Fall Victim to Webcam Blackmail

3/14/2019

 
Picture
Many users have reported recent scam messages from individuals claiming to have intercepted their username and password.  These messages often state they have been watching your screen activity and webcam while you have been unaware.
Typically, attackers threaten to broadcast footage to your contacts, colleagues, or social media channels.  Demanding payment in Bitcoin, malicious hackers blackmail their victims to keep confidential information private.

Where Have the Attacks Come From?
In many cases where hackers have claimed to have a victims' password, this has turned out to be true. 
In the last few years alone, many large websites have suffered enormous hacks which have released confidential details on many of their users.  LinkedIn, Yahoo, and Myspace all suffered massive and devastating hacks.  Some users of these services are still feeling the consequences today.
The details leaked from these sites, and others facing the same issues, are sold online for years after the initial breach.  Hackers buy username and password combinations in the hopes of reusing them to access services, steal money, or blackmail their owners.

How to Respond
If you have been contacted by one of these hackers, it is a scary reality that they could have access to your credentials, data, and online services. The only thing you can do in response to this type of email is to ignore it. This “we recorded you” email is a scam made much more believable because they probably do have one of your real passwords gained from a site hack. That said, accounts that share the same password should be changed immediately.  Security on additional services you use should be updated too.

Self Defense On the Web
When using online services, a unique password for every site is your number one defense.  A good password manager makes this practical and straightforward too. Using a different password for each site you use means that hackers can only gain access to one site at a time.  A hack in one place should never compromise your other accounts by revealing the single password you use everywhere. Often, people think that maintaining many passwords is hard work or even impossible to do.  In truth, it's almost always easier to keep tabs with a password manager than it is to use the system you have in place today.

A high quality and secure password manager such as Dashlane, or 1Password, can keep track of all your logins efficiently and securely.  They often offer the chance to improve your security by generating random and strong passwords that hackers will have a tougher time cracking.
Password management services offer a host of features that help you log in, remind you to refresh your security, and make your safety a number one priority. After using a manager for just a short time, you can be forgiven for wondering how you managed without it.
​
If you think you might have been hacked already, or want to prevent it from ever happening, give us a call to at 715-255-0325 update your security.

Comments are closed.

    Yellowstone Computing

    To read about us, click here!

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Visit Us!

What Our Clients Are Saying

Joe is really in tune with what our business needs are... what a great guy with amazing skills... - Grassland Veterinary Service

Yellowstone Computing goes above and beyond for their customers! Joe is very knowledgeable and will go the extra mile to make sure his customers not only get what they asked for but also makes sure they are taken care of for many years to come! Between the great business services they provide and their involvement in the Thorp Chamber I'd highly recommend doing business with Yellowstone Computing! Whether you are an individual looking for computer or other technology help or a large employer who needs to either supplement your current IT support or completely outsource it Yellowstone Computing should be one of your first calls! - Justin Z.