• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • FOX 40
    • Meet Our Team
      • Our Journalists
      • Sales & Programming
    • Red Cross Support
  • Keeping It Real
  • Contest
  • Programming
    • FOX 40 TV Guide
    • WHAT’S ON FOX
    • WATCH STREAMING NEWS NOW
    • CHURCH PROGRAMMING AND DIRECTORY
  • About WDBD
    • Contact Us
    • Job Listings
  • Advertise With Us
  • MS Help Wanted
WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD FOX 40 Jackson MS Local News, Weather and Sports

WDBD Television for Jackson, MS

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Weather
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

Massive sextortion attack running wild, security firm says

Sextortion campaigns are back with a vengeance.

At the root of the campaign is a botnet currently operating on more than 450,000 infected hosts, according to a new report from Check Point Research, an IT security firm.

The botnet – a network of malicious computers – spits out millions of sextortion threats, as many as 30,000 per hour, Check Point said.

‘SEXTORTION’ SCAM USES PASSWORD BREACHES TO TARGET VICTIMS

“It is happening while we speak [and] we can expect them to scale out,” a Check Point spokesperson told Fox News. “The numbers are insane and alarming to us. The sheer speed and volume is unprecedented.”

The basic email is pretty simple. It demands payment and threatens to release sexual content, typically a video, if the demand is not met. The person or entity sending the email usually threatens to send the sexual content to family, friends, co-workers or social network contacts.

Here’s a sample of a sextortion email created by the spam bot, as provided by Check Point:

“Hi, I know one of your passwords is: {password}

Your computer was infected with my private malware…My malware gave me full access to all your accounts (see password above), full control over your computer and it also was possible to spy on you over your webcam.

I collected all your private data and I RECORDED YOU (through your webcam) SATISFYING YOURSELF!

I can publish the video of you and all your private data on the whole web, social networks, over email of all contacts.”

Sextortion is a growing threat. In 2018, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 51,146 extortion-related complaints with adjusted losses of over $83 million, a 242 percent increase from 2017.

‘CIA SEXTORTION’ EMAIL SCAM MAKES ITS DEBUT

And the majority of extortion complaints in 2018 were part of a sextortion campaign, the FBI said in the report.

The Phorpiex (aka Trik) botnet behind the latest attacks has been active for almost a decade, according to Check Point. But it is only recently that it has added a spam bot to run large-scale sextortion campaigns.

The Phorpiex/Trik spam bot taps into databases with leaked passwords and email addresses. A victim’s password is usually included in the spam email message for shock value and to make it more convincing, Check Point added.

“The spam bot can produce a large amount of spam emails – up to 30,000 per hour. Each individual spam campaign can cover up to 27 million potential victims,” Check Point said in the report.

It appears to be paying off. In the five months that Check Point has been monitoring the operation, it has recorded transfers of more than 11 Bitcoin – roughly $87,000 – to the criminals behind the operation.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Primary Sidebar


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Follow Us On Facebook


Trending Now

brandon-siler-lauds-ex-florida-teammate-percy-harvin’s-talent:-‘he-should’ve-been-the-best-player-in-the-nfl’

Brandon Siler lauds ex-Florida teammate Percy Harvin’s talent: ‘He should’ve been the best player in the NFL’

deion-sanders-praises-history-making-female-college-football-player,-concerned-for-her-safety

Deion Sanders praises history-making female college football player, concerned for her safety

jets-almost-in-‘panic-mode’-since-aaron-rodgers-went-down,-chiefs-linebacker-says

Jets almost in ‘panic mode’ since Aaron Rodgers went down, Chiefs linebacker says

astros’-hector-neris-stomps-toward-and-yells-at-mariners’-julio-rodriguez-after-strikeout

Astros’ Hector Neris stomps toward and yells at Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez after strikeout

taylor-swift-loans-new-york-pad-to-sophie-turner-and-her-kids-amid-contentious-joe-jonas-divorce:-report

Taylor Swift loans New York pad to Sophie Turner and her kids amid contentious Joe Jonas divorce: report


LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES

Capitol Police investigating alleged road rage incident near stadium

25-acre fire started in Copiah County after 4-wheeler backfires

Body found in Mississippi River, MPD investigates

Hinds County approves spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments for cyberattack recovery efforts

Vicksburg football game ends early after 2 fights break out

More Local News

NATIONAL HEADLINES

texas-woman-pepper-sprays-ride-share-driver,-steals-his-wallet-for-refusing-to-go-through-drive-thru:-police

Texas woman pepper sprays ride-share driver, steals his wallet for refusing to go through drive-thru: police

A Texas woman is wanted in Houston after authorities say she pepper sprayed and robbed her ride-share driver over his refusal to take her through a fast-food restaurant drive-thru earlier this month.Surveillance footage from Sept. 6 shows the female suspect … Read Full Report about Texas woman pepper sprays ride-share driver, steals his wallet for refusing to go through drive-thru: police

desantis-suggests-one-on-one-debate-with-trump:-‘you-owe-it-to-the-voters’

DeSantis suggests one-on-one debate with Trump: ‘You owe it to the voters’

GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis finished the second Republican primary debate and immediately suggested another: a one-on-one face-off with former President Donald Trump. "Since the former president didn't come here, maybe he would be willing to do one … Read Full Report about DeSantis suggests one-on-one debate with Trump: ‘You owe it to the voters’

hunter-biden’s-$250k-wire-from-china-labeled-as-a-‘personal-investment’

Hunter Biden’s $250K wire from China labeled as a ‘personal investment’

EXCLUSIVE: The $250,000 wire Hunter Biden received from his Chinese business partners was labeled as a "personal investment," despite his legal team claiming the funds were part of a loan and previously saying he never "received any return on his investment," … Read Full Report about Hunter Biden’s $250K wire from China labeled as a ‘personal investment’

michael-gambon,-‘harry-potter’-actor,-dead-at-82

Michael Gambon, ‘Harry Potter’ actor, dead at 82

Michael Gambon, who was known for his role as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight "Harry Potter" films, has died Thursday. He was 82."We are devastated to announce the loss of Sir Michael Gambon. Beloved husband and father, Michael died … Read Full Report about Michael Gambon, ‘Harry Potter’ actor, dead at 82

youth-pastor-who-allegedly-tried-to-kill-wife,-5-children-was-afraid-of-being-evicted-from-home:-affidavit

Youth pastor who allegedly tried to kill wife, 5 children was afraid of being evicted from home: affidavit

A Kansas youth pastor, who allegedly tried to stab his wife and five children to death before attempting to set his home on fire, was apparently afraid of being evicted, according to a recently unsealed affidavit. Matthew Richards, 41, is charged with five … Read Full Report about Youth pastor who allegedly tried to kill wife, 5 children was afraid of being evicted from home: affidavit

Footer

Public File Info

Individuals with disabilities who have questions about the content of our public file or website may contact RaMona Alexander by phone at
601-948-3333 or by email at RaMona.Alexander@fox40tv.com

»WDBD FCC Public File
»EEO Report
»Closed Captioning
»Advertising Terms And Conditions

 

 

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Weather
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?

CATEGORIES

  • Local News
  • National
  • Sports
  • Puppy Picks
  • FOX 40 Foodies
  • Closing the Gap
  • Weather
  • More…
    • Lifestyle
      • Heart Month
    • Politics
    • Health
    • Science
    • Entertainment
      • Technology
      • What’s on TV?
GRIT TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo
GRIT-TV Logo
Antenna_TV_logo

Copyright © 2023 · American Spirit Media LLC · WDBD TV · Jackson MS · Terms of Service · Privacy Policy