“Successfully hacked into your device’s operating system” Email Scam

This email scam is getting sent to thousands of individuals every single day.

By Andy Mulholland - Malware Researcher 10 Min Read

A fraudulent email campaign is currently targeting many people. Based on the message, it seems that a certain hacker has “Successfully hacked into your device's operating system” and is asserting that they now have full control over your accounts.

According to the claim, a virus has taken control of your system, allowing them to easily access and manipulate the display and camera of your devices.

The email informs you that your device has been compromised due to your visit to an adult website. It bears resemblance to another deceptive email campaign where a supposed professional hacker claims to have gained access to your device.

Content of the email

The email mentioned that your computer has been infected by a Trojan virus, which gives someone complete access and control over functions like audio, display, camera, and microphone.

In addition, it seems that the threat actor may have obtained access to the entire contact list.

The email claims to have recorded the user and made a video of them watching inappropriate content.

They claim that with a simple click of the mouse, you can easily send this disturbing video to all of your contacts. Following that, the user will be requested to make a payment of $1000 to the hacker's Bitcoin wallet under threat.

Once the task is finished, they assure you that the video will be deleted and you won't hear from them again. They will request you to make payment within 48 hours or two days, otherwise the videos will be shared with your contacts.

Although they may seem harmless at first glance, these emails are actually sent to a large number of internet users and are commonly known as scam or phishing emails. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed right now, just take a deep breath and grab a glass of water.

Don't worry, the situation is just a scam, and everything the threat actor is saying is completely false. Do not send any money to the scammers.

Full message

Here is the full message of the said professional programmer email scam:

Subject: Hi. I'm here with an update that may require your full attention.

10.06.2024 18:00:47 – This day will be marked as the one where I successfully hacked into your device's operating system and gained complete access to your account.

Rest assured, I have been monitoring your every move with great interest for a significant period of time. A virus now controls your system, giving me the ability to access and manipulate your devices' display and camera

I have harvested all your information, from social networks to email accounts. For a long duration, I've been gathering detailed data about you. In my watch over you, I've come across something quite peculiar.

It's evident we both grasp the implications of the known facts. If you would prefer that I not do it, transfer 1000 $ Dollar US in my bitcoin wallet.

BTC Wallet address: bc1qdcxa6lms8q7axxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To learn about funding your Bitcoin wallet, Google is at your service with plenty of easy-to-follow guides. As soon as the funds are received, I will promptly eliminate any undesired material.

Following that, we can part ways amicably. I also assure the deactivation and removal of all malware from your devices. You can trust my word, as I consistently honor my commitments.

This is a reasonable deal, especially considering the time I've invested in tracking your profile and traffic. You have exactly two days (48 hours) from the time this letter is opened to make the payment!

If, after this timeframe, I don't receive the requested payment from you, I will make your accounts and visited websites, personal data, and edited materials accessible to everyone without any advance notice.

Always remember: I am infallible, and I strongly advise against trying to jest with me; I possess an array of capabilities. Filing complaints about me is a fruitless endeavor since locating me is impossible.

Erasing the drive or destroying the device won't make any difference because I already hold your data. Responding to this message is a futile action since I didn't utilize a personal email to send it, and I won't be reading any responses.

Wishing you the best of luck and hoping you won't get upset! Remember, each of us has our own set of responsibilities, and today it seems you've encountered a tough situation.

P.s. Moving forward, it's a good idea to follow internet safety guidelines and avoid visiting suspicious websites.

Scam emails in general

There have been many scam emails going around on the internet, and the “Successfully hacked into your device's operating system” is just another version of them.

The sender uses scareware tactics to create panic in the recipient, making it simpler for them to manipulate and coerce the person into complying with their demands.

Scam emails frequently contain fake invoice scams, where the scammers alter the payment details to divert your funds to a fraudulent account.

These emails attempt to deceive users by asking for something in exchange for withholding information from the public.

The email claims that the sender has managed to access your accounts and personal information. However, we should note that they lack any evidence to back up their claims against the recipient.

How these scams trick you into thinking they are real

The email scam you received may have included valid credentials for your account's password. When this occurs, there's no cause for concern as it's likely just outdated.

These credentials are known to cybercriminals because they were found on the dark web, likely as a result of a data breach from a previous website.

Although your machine was not infected, it is possible that they included your password in the email to make the hacking appear more legitimate to the recipient.

Just a heads up: If you've changed your password before, the email might have old account information from a couple of years back.

Furthermore, apart from your password credentials, there is a lack of substantial proof or evidence to support these claims. They are unwilling to acknowledge emails due to their involvement with an automated blackmail message.

If you had a password manager, it would have promptly notified you about any potential compromise of your password or if you had recently changed it. Rest assured, there's no cause for concern in that scenario.

Summary
Subject lineSuccessfully hacked into your device's operating system
Threat typePhishing scam, deceptive email, sextortion
Fake claimHackers have gained access to your computer & accounts
Asking amount1000 USD (in Bitcoin)
DamagePotential loss of personal data & money

What should you do about your data?

Our team has been tracking these sextortion emails for a long time, and we frequently receive emails and messages from site visitors asking what they should do next after disregarding the email.

Having your private data floating around the corners of the internet can make you feel vulnerable and exposed.

As a result, we recently partnered with DeleteMe, a privacy service that can help you remove your private information from the internet.

DeleteMe removes your personal information from over 750 data brokers (full list) and offers custom removal requests, automatic routine removal, and detailed reporting to give you peace of mind.

Right now, Hackerdose visitors can get 20% off DeleteMe, allowing you to get your data off the internet and stop receiving these scary emails for good.

How do you know if your computer is actually hacked

There are instances where cybercriminals may have installed malware on the recipient's computer system. In this situation, the scam email contains a genuine screenshot of your device's screen capture or your complete hardware configuration, including all drivers.

Furthermore, for individuals who have a tendency to be concerned, it might be beneficial to perform a computer scan for malware as an additional safety measure to offer additional reassurance.

How to remove malware from computer

You've come to the right place if you need help getting rid of malware risks on your computer.

In the steps that follow, you'll learn how to get rid of harmful risks and make sure your system is malware-free.

We considered the technical skills of the people who use the internet, so we made sure the steps are simple enough that even those who aren't tech-savvy could follow them.

Before you continue, make sure you have a copy of your data saved somewhere else. If you don't, your files could get damaged or lost while you follow the steps below. These kinds of things don't usually happen, but we suggest doing it just in case.

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For the Overviews

To remove malware from your computer, you only need to follow a simple three-step procedure:

Step 1: Run malware scans

Step 2: Uninstall unrelated software

Step 3: Use the Tron script


Step 1: Run malware scans

New threats might not be found by antivirus engines in the early stages of an infection because their signatures are still being researched and put to a database for detection. It might be found in the end, but it may be too late for the computers that were infected.

However new malware threats can have some strings and signatures of some older malware in a database of other security software. Therefore it might get detected by other antivirus and not by others.

Since people who aren't tech-savvy might have trouble finding the malware, we will need more than one piece of security software to help us find the malicious threat.

Here's some good news: The programs mentioned below are completely free, which means you do not need to spend a dime to solve your malware problem. You can always use them anytime you feel your system is infected.

Please run the software individually. You can do so in any particular order.

  • Removal Tool
  • Emergency Kit
  • ESET Scanner
  • Malwarebytes
About the software

1. To start, download the Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool.

KVRT Step1

2. Once the download of the executable file (KVRT.exe) is complete. The program doesn't need to be installed on the computer, so you may begin running it straight away.

KVRT Step2

3. After reading the KSN Statement, Privacy Policy, and End User License Agreement, check the box indicating your agreement to the terms and conditions. To continue, click Accept.

KVRT Step3

4. Please wait for the system initialization process to finish, as the program will first check if your system is compatible.

KVRT Step4

5. Before we start scanning, we will have to set the scope of the scan. Click the Change parameters option to do so.

KVRT Step5

6. Check all the boxes to allow the computer to search through all of the disks and directories for malware. After that, click OK to return to the main screen.

KVRT Step6

7. We can now begin the scan; simply click the Start scan button, and the Virus Removal Tool will begin.

KVRT Step7

8. Await the scan's completion with patience. If there are any risks within the computer system, a notification will be displayed.

KVRT Step8

9. To completely remove the risks that the program has identified, click Delete from the drop-down menu of each discovered object.

KVRT Step9

10. Click Continue to remove the identified malware threats from your computer.

KVRT Step10
About the software

1. Download the Emsisoft Emergency Kit portable software.

Emsisoft Step1

2. You can launch the executable program (EmsisoftEmergencyKit.exe) directly from your downloads folder after downloading it.

Emsisoft Step2

3. Click Yes to let the program start on the computer when the User Account Control window appears.

Emsisoft Step3

4. Choose your program's destination folder and accept the license and maintenance terms. Next, click Install to continue.

Emsisoft Step4

5. Click Malware Scan on the homepage of the Emergency Kit application to start the scanning process. The amount of time it takes for the program to scan your computer will depend on how many files you have and the hardware capabilities of your system.

Emsisoft Step5

6. Emsisoft Emergency Scanner will display a list of the files that the program has detected when the scan is complete. To get rid of threats from your computer, click on Quarantine selected.

Emsisoft Step6

7. To complete the malware removal procedure, Emsisoft Emergency Scanner may also ask you to restart your computer. Simply click Reboot your system to finish the process.

Emsisoft Step7
About the software

1. Download the most recent version of ESET Online Scanner.

ESET Step1

2. After pressing the download button, the file (Esetonlinescanner.exe) should have been downloaded to your computer. It does not require any installations so you can simply run the aforementioned file.

ESET Step2

3. Before using ESET Online Scanner, it must be initialized. Choose your preferred language and click Get started. Continue as directed by the screen until the homepage appears.

ESET Step3

4. Click Computer scan from the homepage, then select Full scan from the three options available.

ESET Step4

5. Give ESET Online Scanner the permission to detect and remove potentially unwanted apps by ticking the Enable option. After that, click Start scan to begin the scanning process.

ESET Step5

6. Await the completion of the malware scan for your machine by the ESET Online Scanner. ESET Online Scanner would have automatically removed the threats it found after the scan. To complete the malware cleanup process, click Proceed.

ESET Step6
About the software

Note: We will only use the free version of Malwarebytes because it includes all of the capabilities we require.

1. Download the latest version of Malwarebytes Anti-malware.

Malwarebytes Step1

2. Malwarebytes will start downloading (MBSetup.exe) the installation file. Run the executable after the download is complete.

Malwarebytes Step2

3. To allow the program to execute, simply click Yes in the User Account Control window that may appear.

Malwarebytes Step3

4. The Malwarebytes setup wizard will now open; select Install to continue.

Malwarebytes Step4

5. You will be prompted by Malwarebytes to install the Browser Guard extension. Depending on whether you want it on your browser or not, you can choose to download it (the extension is completely free).

Malwarebytes Step5

6. Please wait as the Malwarebytes Setup installs itself. Follow the on-screen instructions until you have successfully installed Malwarebytes.

Malwarebytes Step6

7. Start by launching Malwarebytes Anti-malware for the first time after it has been installed. If you're installing Malwarebytes for the first time, you'll get a 14-day free trial of the premium version.

Malwarebytes Step7

8. After the program takes you to the main dashboard, click the Scanner box in the middle to start scanning the computer.

Malwarebytes Step8

9. You won't click Scan just yet when you get to the Scanner page. Rather, select Advanced scans as shown below.

Malwarebytes Step9

10. In the Custom scan section, click Configure scan. We will be able to alter the way the software scans the computer as a result.

Malwarebytes Step10

11. To detect hidden malware, click the box next to Scan for rootkits on the Configure Custom Scan screen. Additionally, to enable Malwarebytes to scan every drive on your computer, check the boxes next to each one.

Malwarebytes Step11

12. Once the Custom Scan options have been adjusted, click the Start Custom Scan button to get started.

Malwarebytes Step12

13. A side window displaying the computer scan's progress will appear. Please wait until Malwarebytes has completed its malware scan of the entire system.

Malwarebytes Step13

14. Following the completion of the scan, a list of threats found will appear. Check the boxes near all the malicious files and get rid of them from the computer by clicking the Quarantine button.

Malwarebytes Step14

If prompted, please restart your computer since Malwarebytes may require it.

Step 2: Uninstall unrelated software

You may discover programs on your computer that you did not install yourself and that you do not recognize. Since they might be the source of the malware infection, we should delete them as a result.

While the most recent version of Windows settings allows you to accomplish this through the Add & Remove Programs section, it is far simpler to use the Programs and Features page in the Control Panel.

The publisher name, the installation date, and the version number will all be displayed on a single grid screen, making it simpler to locate the virus. Here's how to do so:

1. Click on the Windows key to open the Start menu.

Uninstall Step1

2. Type Control Panel in the provided search bar and select the first item from the search results.

Uninstall Step 2

3. Click on Programs and inside, select Programs and Features.

Uninstall Step3

4. You will be presented with a list of programs currently installed on your computer.

Uninstall Step4

5. Find programs you do not recognize and right-click the item then select Uninstall/Change from the dropdown menu.

Uninstall Step5

We'll need to use a powerful uninstaller to do the dirty work for us if the software is stubborn and won't go away with normal approaches.

Fortunately, there are tools for this; Revo Uninstaller is a good uninstaller program made to tackle and remove uninstallable programs.

Revouninstaller icon Uninstall unwanted program/s using Revo Uninstaller

1. To start, download Revo Uninstaller by clicking here. Avoid downloading from third-party sources as they may contain additional bloatware upon installation.

Revo Step1

2. On the download page, opt for the free version of Revo Uninstaller as it has all the features we need. Click on Free Download to begin downloading the setup file.

Revo Step2

3. The revosetup.exe file would have started downloading. Click on it to start installing the software.

Revo Step3

4. Revo Uninstaller setup would now begin and follow the typical setup procedure such as selecting your setup language, accepting the license agreement, and selecting the installation location. Once setup is ready click Install.

Revo Step4

5. After the setup is finished, check the Launch Revo Uninstaller option to open the program upon closing the installer.

Revo Step5

6. Once Revo Uninstaller has opened, it will show you the list of applications currently installed on the computer. Find the program/s you do not recognize, right-click it, and select Uninstall from the drop-down menu. (We will be using PC App Store to demonstrate.)

Revo Step6

7. A confirmation message stating if you are sure you want to uninstall the said program, click Continue.

Revo Step7

8. Follow the uninstallation instructions and this time, Revo Uninstaller would have forced the program to continue with the uninstallation compared to the previous attempt via Control Panel.

Revo Step8

9. You will be notified that the software has been uninstalled, Revo Uninstaller will now conduct a preliminary examination and get rid of additional files and registries related to the program.

Revo Step9

10. On the selection of Scanning modes, select Advanced to make sure everything is scanned without leaving a single directory unnoticed.

Revo Step10

11. Wait for the scan to finish as Revo Uninstaller is checking for residual files and registries related to the program.

Revo Step11

12. Revo Uninstaller may have found leftover Registry items, click Select All and proceed to delete them by clicking the Delete button next to it. After that, click Next.

Revo Step12

13. It may have also found some leftover files and folders, simply do the same by clicking Select All and deleting them. Now click Finish and the uninstallation of the unwanted program is done.

Revo Step13

Step 3: Use the Tron Script (Optional)

The Tron script fights for the user, therefore it is one of our all-time favorites; it uses practically every removal and optimization method known to man, all with the touch of a single button.

It automates functions and programs for removing malware and bloatware, as well as cleaning up the computer, so the user behind the screen doesn't have to do any work at all.

Fair warning: It has been stated numerous times in the Tron Script documentation that attempting to clean or repair a system that was compromised by malware may result in a disabled PC. As a result, it is recommended that you backup your files before proceeding, as stated at the beginning of the instructions.

With that being said, let us proceed and use the Tron script to clean the system:

1. To start, download the Tron script.

Tron Step1

2. Extract the downloaded Tron file, with the use of an archiver like 7-Zip. Please keep in mind that you will not run the Tron script exactly as it is downloaded. You'll need to extract the.exe first.

Tron Step2

3. After extracting the compressed file, open the Tron folder, right-click the Tron script, and run it as administrator.

Tron Step3

4. The Tron script would have opened up and initialized by updating the database and checking the repo.

Tron Step4

5. Once the initialization is finished, the disclaimer will be shown on the screen. Read it and type I AGREE in all caps to continue.

Tron Step5

6. After agreeing to the disclaimer, it will show your current settings, as well as the Runtime estimate on how long the script may run. Press any key to begin running the Tron script on the system.

Tron Step6

7. It will create a system restore point before beginning the process so if you run into any issues after running the script, you can always restore to the point it created before it started.

Tron Step7

8. Please wait for the whole process to finish. You may see Tron script download and run multiple programs on the computer but it will uninstall them after finishing the process. This might take a long time as shown on the Runtime estimate.

Tron Step8

9. Once everything has finished, the CMD window will have turned green which indicates that the process is a success. Press any key on your keyboard to close the Tron script.

Tron Step9

10. To finalize the Tron script process, we recommend that you restart your computer.

Tron Step10

After restarting your computer, you should no longer see the presence of malware threats. You can always use the Tron script as a last option if you believe your machine is infected and there is no chance of detecting the malware.

Tips to protect your PC from malware

As the saying goes:The biggest vulnerability is the person behind the screen

So, here are some tips and what you need to know in order to keep your device safe and malware-free in the long run.

Keep every software installed up to date

Make sure that all of the programs in your computer is up-to-date with the latest version released by the developer. The reason behind this is that these updates frequently tackle bugs and issues that malware actors often exploit.

The same goes for your computer's operating system, make sure Windows is up-to-date with the latest software update to prevent malware from exploiting a hidden vulnerability.

Avoid downloading files from unknown sources

One of the biggest sources of malware infection in a computer system is third-party installations. This happens when a user downloads a certain program from sources that are not the official download links. Some of the common types of sources where malware is present are torrent files, cracked software, and games.

Be careful with opening email attachments

Malware often disguises itself as resumes and quotations and threat actors often send thousands of these infected emails to company employees around the world in order to infiltrate their network.

Always check where your emails are coming from as there may be a chance that the project attachment you received via email did not actually come from a co-worker.

Do not visit unreputable websites

Avoid visiting websites that contain unfiltered advertisements such as illegal streaming websites, cracked software platforms, and links sent out to you by somebody you do not trust.

These sites are often linked to redirect chains that load once you click on an ad element on the page. Following this chain often leads to drive-by malware and phishing pages that an average user may eventually fail to notice.

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