Internet and computer security

Murray20c8

Murray20c8

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Here is what could happen to people if not careful. I have received this type of email several times in different forms but this gives you the idea.
The hackers know my name, my personal email address, my home address and my phone number all courtesy of a hack on a web site I had an account on. From that they got on to Walmart and used my credit card. You can't have too many passwords.

Murray MY LAST NAME, It's important you pay attention to this message right now. Take a moment to
chill, breathe, and analyze it thoroughly. 'Cause we're about to discuss a deal between you and
me, and I ain't playing games. You don't know me whereas I know ALOT about you and you
must be wondering how, correct? I very well know that calling MY PHONE NUMBER or knocking
MY ADDRESS would be a follow up step to contact you in case you don't act. Don't even try to
hide from this, I know where your family lives and you've no idea what my power is in MY CITY.
You've been careless lately, clicking through those girlie videos and venturing into the
darker corners of cyberspace. I installed a Malware on one such website and you accessed it to
have fun(you get my drift). And while you were accessing that website, my malware gave me
complete control over your device and your system started out functioning as a RDP (Remote
Device). I can look at everything on your screen, flick on your cam to record you, and you
wouldn't even suspect a thing. Oh! you guessed it right, I have recorded you and I have got
access to all your contacts, and social media accounts too. Been keeping tabs on your pathetic
existence for a while now. It is simply your hard luck that I got to know about your misadventures.
I gave in more time than I probably should have digging into your life. Extracted quite a bit of juicy
info from your system. and I've seen it all. Yeah, Yeah, I've got footage of you doing embarrassing
things in your room (nice setup, by the way). I then developed videos and screenshots where on
one side of the screen, there's the videos you were enjoying, and on the other half, it is you doing
naughty things. With just a single click, I can send this garbage to every single of your contacts. I
see you are getting anxious, but let's get real. As a family man, I am ready to wipe the slate clean,
and let you get on with your life and forget you ever existed. I am going to give you two options
now. First Option is to turn a deaf ear my mail. Let me tell you what is going to happen if you
choose this option. Your video will get sent to your contacts. The video is straight fire, and I can't
even fathom the humiliation you'll face when your colleagues, friends, and fam watch it. But hey,
that's life, ain't it? Don't be playing the victim here. Option 2 is to pay me, and be confidential
about it. We will call this my “privacy tip”. Lets see what happens when you select this option.
Your dirty secret will remain private. I will wipe everything clean once you send payment. You
need to make the payment by Bitcoin only. I want you to know I'm aiming for a win-win here. I
honor my obligations. Amount to be sent: $ 2000 BTC ADDRESS IS:
bc1qcw07jstppumv2fgzjxullw73g3erlqy96y5gze (Copy it carefully) Let me tell ya, it's peanuts for
your peace. And of course: You got one day to sort this out and I will only accept Bitcoins (I've a
special pixel in this email message, and now I know that you have read this mail). Once my system
will catch that full Bitcoin payment, it'll wipe out all the dirt I got on you. Don't even think about
replying to this or negotiating, it's pointless. The email and wallet are custom-made for you,
untraceable. If I notice that you've shared or discussed this email with someone else or online,
your garbage will instantly start getting sent to your contacts. And don't even think about turning
off your phone or resetting it to factory settings. It's pointless. I don't make mistakes, Murray.
Honestly, those online tips about covering your camera aren't as useless as they seem. I am
waiting for my payment.
 
Murray20c8 said:
Here is what could happen to people if not careful. I have received this type of email several times in different forms but this gives you the idea.
The hackers know my name, my personal email address, my home address and my phone number all courtesy of a hack on a web site I had an account on. From that they got on to Walmart and used my credit card. You can't have too many passwords.

Murray MY LAST NAME, It's important you pay attention to this message right now. Take a moment to
chill, breathe, and analyze it thoroughly. 'Cause we're about to discuss a deal between you and
me, and I ain't playing games. You don't know me whereas I know ALOT about you and you
must be wondering how, correct? I very well know that calling MY PHONE NUMBER or knocking
MY ADDRESS would be a follow up step to contact you in case you don't act. Don't even try to
hide from this, I know where your family lives and you've no idea what my power is in MY CITY.
You've been careless lately, clicking through those girlie videos and venturing into the
darker corners of cyberspace. I installed a Malware on one such website and you accessed it to
have fun(you get my drift). And while you were accessing that website, my malware gave me
complete control over your device and your system started out functioning as a RDP (Remote
Device). I can look at everything on your screen, flick on your cam to record you, and you
wouldn't even suspect a thing. Oh! you guessed it right, I have recorded you and I have got
access to all your contacts, and social media accounts too. Been keeping tabs on your pathetic
existence for a while now. It is simply your hard luck that I got to know about your misadventures.
I gave in more time than I probably should have digging into your life. Extracted quite a bit of juicy
info from your system. and I've seen it all. Yeah, Yeah, I've got footage of you doing embarrassing
things in your room (nice setup, by the way). I then developed videos and screenshots where on
one side of the screen, there's the videos you were enjoying, and on the other half, it is you doing
naughty things. With just a single click, I can send this garbage to every single of your contacts. I
see you are getting anxious, but let's get real. As a family man, I am ready to wipe the slate clean,
and let you get on with your life and forget you ever existed. I am going to give you two options
now. First Option is to turn a deaf ear my mail. Let me tell you what is going to happen if you
choose this option. Your video will get sent to your contacts. The video is straight fire, and I can't
even fathom the humiliation you'll face when your colleagues, friends, and fam watch it. But hey,
that's life, ain't it? Don't be playing the victim here. Option 2 is to pay me, and be confidential
about it. We will call this my “privacy tip”. Lets see what happens when you select this option.
Your dirty secret will remain private. I will wipe everything clean once you send payment. You
need to make the payment by Bitcoin only. I want you to know I'm aiming for a win-win here. I
honor my obligations. Amount to be sent: $ 2000 BTC ADDRESS IS:
bc1qcw07jstppumv2fgzjxullw73g3erlqy96y5gze (Copy it carefully) Let me tell ya, it's peanuts for
your peace. And of course: You got one day to sort this out and I will only accept Bitcoins (I've a
special pixel in this email message, and now I know that you have read this mail). Once my system
will catch that full Bitcoin payment, it'll wipe out all the dirt I got on you. Don't even think about
replying to this or negotiating, it's pointless. The email and wallet are custom-made for you,
untraceable. If I notice that you've shared or discussed this email with someone else or online,
your garbage will instantly start getting sent to your contacts. And don't even think about turning
off your phone or resetting it to factory settings. It's pointless. I don't make mistakes, Murray.
Honestly, those online tips about covering your camera aren't as useless as they seem. I am
waiting for my payment.
Click to expand...
And you found this suspicious ? I guess I better cancel that e-transfer then , lol . But seriously you are right that unfortunately a lot of people, especially seniors being in general less tech savvy, do fall for the scams from these scumbags . One of THE most important things that people should do is to keep your operating system of choice regularly updated as well as ALL of the installed software on the device. Never click links in emails of course and especially don’t use the same password for every login. I’m looking at the 1234567 , password , qwerty password folks.

Some aren’t aware, some don’t care for what ever reason. For those on Windows computers there is a free program, although they do accept donations, that you can install , runs in the background and checks for updates for the OS and virtually all installed software. It’s called UpdateHub and is available on GitHub ( name is coincidence) . GetHub is a online repository of open source and freeware applications and has been around for years. Very safe. I won’t post the link, just search for it and then when there use the search to get the latest version. Clean simple interface and very lightweight on resources. Highly recommended. I have been using it for years.

From Perplexity…
UpdateHub is a user-friendly software updater designed to simplify and streamline the process of keeping your computer’s software up to date. It scans all installed applications, including operating systems and Microsoft Store apps, and notifies you of available updates, allowing you to choose which to install easily.
Key features of UpdateHub include:
• Support for updating a wide range of software, including OS updates and Microsoft Store apps.
• A rollback function to revert to a previous version if needed.
• Detailed update information such as release notes and version numbers.
• Automatic verification of downloaded apps through Windows Defender and security hash checks to ensure safety.
• Regular improvements and bug fixes, with the latest version being 2.4.1 as of early 2025.
UpdateHub is compatible with Windows 10 64-bit (version 1809 or later) and requires Winget v1.4.11071 or later and Powershell 5.1 or later. It is considered safe and reliable, with no virus detections reported in VirusTotal scans.
There is also an enterprise-grade UpdateHub solution for remotely updating Linux-based embedded devices in the field, focusing on security and efficiency.
In summary, UpdateHub offers a comprehensive and secure way to keep your Windows software updated with a simple interface and useful features like rollback and detailed update info, making it a strong alternative to other software updaters.
 
In my case the website that was hacked must have been an O/S that had passwords stored in either an unencrypted format or an O/S that store passwords in a non hashed encryption format. I've been retired for 12 or 13 years so things have changed greatly, but I would routinely encrypt dictionary words and compare them to their encrypted version to see how many users had weak passwords. To no one's surprise there was way too many. That's why everyone is going to 2 stage authentication. Too many people with poor passwords.
 
Murray20c8 said:
In my case the website that was hacked must have been an O/S that had passwords stored in either an unencrypted format or an O/S that store passwords in a non hashed encryption format. I've been retired for 12 or 13 years so things have changed greatly, but I would routinely encrypt dictionary words and compare them to their encrypted version to see how many users had weak passwords. To no one's surprise there was way too many. That's why everyone is going to 2 stage authentication. Too many people with poor passwords.
Click to expand...
All too common for sure. What now is the most secure way to keep the scum out is to use Passkeys. Apple prompts you to switch to them quite often as you enter passwords for sites now. Google as well as Microsoft are also heavily promoting them which is good if people actually pay attention. Much more secure as well as easier to use. Also being recommended by the NSA , FBI , and similar agencies. Here is some information about them for the uninformed….time to stop using passwords especially now with the power of AI . And soon if not already, Quantum processors.

Passkeys are a modern, passwordless authentication method based on FIDO standards that allow users to sign into apps and websites using the same process they unlock their devices—such as biometrics (fingerprint, face scan), PIN, or pattern—without entering usernames or passwords.
Key Features of Passkeys:
• Phishing Resistant: Passkeys cannot be stolen or reused by attackers since they use public-key cryptography; the private key stays securely on the user’s device and is never shared.
• No Passwords to Remember: Users authenticate simply by unlocking their device, making sign-ins easier and faster.
• Unique per Service: Each passkey is unique to a website or app, preventing password reuse risks.
• Cross-Device and Cross-Platform: Passkeys can sync across devices and work on different operating systems and browsers, enabling seamless sign-in experiences.
• Improved Security Model: They replace not only passwords but also multi-factor authentication methods like SMS codes or authenticator apps, eliminating many vulnerabilities.
How Passkeys Work:
• When a user registers a passkey with a website or app, a cryptographic key pair is created: a public key stored on the server and a private key kept on the user’s device.
• To sign in, the user unlocks their device (biometric or PIN), which proves ownership of the private key, granting access without transmitting sensitive credentials.
• If signing in on another device, the user can authenticate using their phone nearby to approve access.
Benefits:
• Stronger security against phishing, credential stuffing, and breaches.
• Simpler user experience with fewer failed sign-ins.
• Reduced costs for businesses by eliminating SMS and password reset overhead.
Passkeys represent the future of secure authentication, aiming to replace passwords entirely and provide a safer, more convenient way to access online accounts.
In short: Passkeys let you sign in with biometrics or device unlock instead of passwords, offering stronger security and easier use across apps and websites
 
1st Vette said:
We do seem to have drifted off the original topic, again :angelic: perhaps we should have a separate thread for this important topic. Well , at least it should be considered important if you value your garden gnomes….:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Good idea. My garden gnomes are terrified!
 
Jack Raccoon! said:
Don't judge. I'm not the subject of the shakedown...






I just need to know what appropriate behaviour is acceptable in front of my own screen and should I PPF it. Finally, a use for this product lol...
Click to expand...
Might want to put a piece of tape on the end of your…..web cam. :rolleyes:
 
Jack Raccoon! said:
Don't have one. Only good piece of advice Murray has dispensed.















LOL...
Click to expand...
First compliment from Jack Raccoon to anyone .... EVER! LOL! I'm flattered.
 
Along the security line of chatter, and keeping your computer's OS software up to date, Microsoft is ending Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 OS support effective 14, OCT, 2025. If this has already been posted, or you got "the email", ignore, and move on.
The 2 main options are upgrade to Win 11, or pay a one time US$30 fee to get a year's worth of extended OS updates. I think the Windows Defender virus and malware application will continue to function normally, but your operating system will become more prone to attacks by bad actors on the dark web as the software ages out.
Link to MS info page....
End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows (https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/end-of-support?ocid=CGE_eml_Devices_EOS_868d9gpdz&CLRTags=c_udf~%24~WIN-HER-LINK~%24%24~c_cmp~%24~EmailHero~%24%24~c_type~%24~TextHyperlink~%24%24~c_pos~%24~1B_~_CLRTags_~_&r=1)
I delayed "upgrading" to Win 11 as it was originally designed to sell their laptops, the ridiculously overpriced under performing Surface line, and was implied that it was for artsy fartsy types, so called digital creators, with fancy visuals and audio. Like taking a selfie movie while at PornHub.
 
MKC8 said:
Along the security line of chatter, and keeping your computer's OS software up to date, Microsoft is ending Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 OS support effective 14, OCT, 2025. If this has already been posted, or you got "the email", ignore, and move on.
The 2 main options are upgrade to Win 11, or pay a one time US$30 fee to get a year's worth of extended OS updates. I think the Windows Defender virus and malware application will continue to function normally, but your operating system will become more prone to attacks by bad actors on the dark web as the software ages out.
Link to MS info page....
End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows (https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/end-of-support?ocid=CGE_eml_Devices_EOS_868d9gpdz&CLRTags=c_udf~%24~WIN-HER-LINK~%24%24~c_cmp~%24~EmailHero~%24%24~c_type~%24~TextHyperlink~%24%24~c_pos~%24~1B_~_CLRTags_~_&r=1)
I delayed "upgrading" to Win 11 as it was originally designed to sell their laptops, the ridiculously overpriced under performing Surface line, and was implied that it was for artsy fartsy types, so called digital creators, with fancy visuals and audio. Like taking a selfie movie while at PornHub.
Click to expand...
I have a windows convertible that started out as Windows 8 and updated to 10. The keyboard broke off, but I use the tablet still for playing solitaire. About 6 months ago I turned of it's wifi vowing never to turn it on again. The battery is just now beginning to fade and it's life will soon end, but it will die with Windows 10! lol
 
MKC8 said:
Along the security line of chatter, and keeping your computer's OS software up to date, Microsoft is ending Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 OS support effective 14, OCT, 2025. If this has already been posted, or you got "the email", ignore, and move on.
The 2 main options are upgrade to Win 11, or pay a one time US$30 fee to get a year's worth of extended OS updates. I think the Windows Defender virus and malware application will continue to function normally, but your operating system will become more prone to attacks by bad actors on the dark web as the software ages out.
Link to MS info page....
End of support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7 | Microsoft Windows (https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/end-of-support?ocid=CGE_eml_Devices_EOS_868d9gpdz&CLRTags=c_udf~%24~WIN-HER-LINK~%24%24~c_cmp~%24~EmailHero~%24%24~c_type~%24~TextHyperlink~%24%24~c_pos~%24~1B_~_CLRTags_~_&r=1)
I delayed "upgrading" to Win 11 as it was originally designed to sell their laptops, the ridiculously overpriced under performing Surface line, and was implied that it was for artsy fartsy types, so called digital creators, with fancy visuals and audio. Like taking a selfie movie while at PornHub.
Click to expand...
Very good points regarding the end of front line security updates for Win 10 . IMHO there is and hasn’t been for a while any reason to not update to Win 11 given the improvements in several areas not the least of which is security of your system. The continued security updates past “ end of life “ status costs more than upgrading to a better more secure OS . The main issue is the requirement for TPM or Trusted Platform Module, which is actually hard wired into processors. So older systems can’t comply .
This is not a bad thing except for the cost to owners of older machines who haven’t upgraded their systems. Expensive yes but so is a cup of coffee compared to 5 years ago. Even paying for the recent option offered by Microsoft you still will have a less secure environment.
Windows 11 is now very stable and much better than Windows 10 . A lot of folks are still using Windows 7 , or even previous versions. I hope that they don’t have any of my information on their servers, lol.
If you can afford a $ 130,000 Car you should splurge for a $25.00 operating system. And yes it can be had for that price. No brainer .
 
Last edited:
1st Vette said:
Very good points regarding the end of front line security updates for Win 10 . IMHO there is and hasn’t been for a while any reason to not update to Win 11 given the improvements in several areas not the least of which is security of your system.
Click to expand...
Security aside, 11 is a downgrade from 10. So many features removed. So many things not fixed. Networking is still a pain with Windows. Updates routinely turn off network discovery for example. With 10 you could resize your taskbar etc.
Still many computers that can't upgrade because of the bios. My little "Acer One 10" can't which is why I turned off wifi.
Anyway, we have no choice. Either upgrade or turn off networking .... On purpose i mean! lol
 

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