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MS email was hacked and guy threatened me

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cool09

PCHF Member
Jan 29, 2024
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#1
My Outlook email password was hacked by some guy in Europe (his email ended in ***.de) and he wrote me twice the last few weeks and threatened me. He said he hacked my password using viruses and his first email said "I've been following your online activity searching nasty Adult Content and if you don't send me 1,000,000 bit coins I'm going to make your activity public. Don't bother replying to me. Have a good day". His next email said "If you don't send me 1500 bit coins within the next 48 hrs I'm going to make your online activity public". I tried replying to him and I was blocked.
I followed MS tips for hacked accounts and I (1) Changed my password, (2) Scanned my PC for threats and found none (I use Windows Defender, Windows 10 and Firefox).
I emailed MS Support about this, I told them I don't like being blackmailed and asked them to do something about it and I never got a reply.
Last time I checked searching Adult Content online in USA is not illegal. It's a given right. I've done absolutely nothing wrong. And I don't like people meddling in my life and threatening me like this. This guy, whoever he is, has nothing better to do with himself and is complete trash, imo.
I really don't want any feedback other than how to secure my email accounts. I just wanted to get this off my chest.
 
#3
Chances are it is a scam intended to panic you into sending the money - usually in Bitcoin - to the included email. If you can sign into the account then they don’t have access but I would change the password & turn on 2 factor authentication.
I receive these scam emails.
Unfortunately Microsoft cannot do anything, you can set up a rule to move emails containing the word bitcoin or porn to the junk folder or delete them from the server.
 
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#4
100% a phishing scam.
They are simply trying to get money out of you.
They don't know your personally, only that a site you have visited, you left a cookie behind and they got your details that way. Or someone who has your address in their Contacts list has been infected and they got it that way - you'll never know for sure, and it really doesn't matter.
They have it know, and will probably sell their list to other spammers - so expect more in the future.

Block, delete, and ignore.

I get them as well, say they have been watching me, and I don't even have a webcam!
 
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#5
Will a VPN help stop hacking? I have Mozilla VPN and it doesn't hide my IP address so I'm going to switch to another VPN. I looked my IP address up online and it said "You can be detected. Buy a VPN now".
Thanks a lot for the suggestions!
 
#7
+1 on the VPN being a waste of time.
They don't stop hacking, they simply 'hide' your browsing traffic by redirecting all data packets through a dedicated private network. They give you anonymity.

They are used by people trying to circumvent geo-locking, or censorship restrictions, or hiding their digital footprint when look at weird (illegal) stuff on the dark web.

I'm a big fan of MFA (multi-factor authentication).
Passwords are something you know, hopefully only you, but they can be cracked, guessed, or are weak to begin with.
Using MFA requires a device, usually your phone, so now you also need something you have.
I could type in your password but unless I also have the device where the MFA code is sent to, the password is of no use.

I use MFA where ever it is available.
 
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