“Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” Email Scam

What Is “Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” Email Scam?
Written by Brendan Smith

“Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” email is a scam that tries attracting user attention with subjects like “Careful, it’s important.” In the message body, the scam falsely claims to have accessed personal data and threatens to leak content unless a Bitcoin payment is made.

While email is not harmful, giving in to the demands could result in financial loss. We recommended ignoring the email, marking it as spam, and blocking the sender to prevent further targeting. Let’s check out the way it operates, step by step.

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What Is “Your Account Was Hacked” Email Scam?

The email “Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” has been identified as spam upon thorough analysis. It is categorized as a sextortion scam, falsely asserting that the recipient’s device was infected with malware, granting unauthorized access to the microphone and camera.

In contrast to conventional sextortion scams, this particular email refrains from explicitly stating that sexually explicit content featuring the recipient has been recorded. Instead, it insinuates such occurrences, allowing for a broader interpretation that can potentially ensnare many victims. However, it is crucial to emphasize that all the claims made in this email are unfounded. Consequently, there is no actual threat posed to the recipients by this deceptive message.

"Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website" Scam Screenshot

“Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” Scam

Name“Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” Email Scam
Threat TypePhishing, Scam, Social Engineering
Distribution methodsThis scam is spread wide via spam email campaigns.
DamageLoss of sensitive private information, monetary loss, identity theft.
Similar BehavitorSome Bad News That You Are About To Hear” Email Scam, “Your Account Was Hacked” Email Scam
Fix ToolSee If Your System Has Been Affected by Your Account Was Hacked Virus

How Does “Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website” Scam Work?

The email, often bearing the subject “Careful, it’s important” (subject may vary), delivers a false narrative to the recipient, asserting that their email account password has been acquired through a legitimate website. According to the sender, this compromise enabled them and their team to infiltrate the account, analyze stored data, and devise an attack vector. The claimed success of this plan resulted in the alleged infection of the recipient’s device with a backdoor-type virus. This malware purportedly grants the sender access to the device’s content and control over its microphone and camera.

The email introduces a unique element by asserting the compilation of an “archive” of “exploding” videos. The lack of further details distinguishes this spam from typical sextortion scams. Yet, the implicit threat is apparent, and the vagueness likely expands the pool of potential victims. A subsequent threat in the email demands that the recorded materials will be leaked unless the recipient transfers 750 USD in Bitcoin cryptocurrency to a specified wallet address within two days. Compliance with this demand supposedly guarantees the deletion of all stolen and recorded data and the removal of the virus.

It is crucial to emphasize that all information presented in this spam email is false. No device infection, data exfiltration, or content creation has occurred. As a result, recipients should disregard the email and promptly report it as spam. Additionally, it’s noteworthy that scammers deliberately opt for cryptocurrencies in ransom demands due to their near-untraceable nature, rendering transaction reversals practically impossible.

Is It Dangerous?

The email does not present an immediate threat unless the recipient succumbs to its demands. The primary risk associated with this communication is financial loss. Furthermore, there exists a potential for an escalation in similar scams targeting the individual, given the success of the initial attempt by scammers.

As previously mentioned, we advise ignoring the email. Moreover, labeling it as spam and blocking the sender is a protective measure, not only shielding the recipient but also aiding in enhancing anti-spam filters. Proactively taking this step may act as a deterrent, dissuading scammers from persistently targeting the individual’s mailbox.

Remove Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam with Gridinsoft Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common PUA as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

Gridinsoft Anti-Malware - Main Screen

To use Gridinsoft for remove malicious threats, follow the steps below:

1. Begin by downloading Gridinsoft Anti-Malware, accessible via the blue button below or directly from the official website gridinsoft.com.

2.Once the Gridinsoft setup file (setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe) is downloaded, execute it by clicking on the file.

setup-gridinsoft-fix.exe

3.Follow the installation setup wizard's instructions diligently.

Gridinsoft Setup Wizard

4. Access the "Scan Tab" on the application's start screen and launch a comprehensive "Full Scan" to examine your entire computer. This inclusive scan encompasses the memory, startup items, the registry, services, drivers, and all files, ensuring that it detects malware hidden in all possible locations.

Scan for Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam PUA

Be patient, as the scan duration depends on the number of files and your computer's hardware capabilities. Use this time to relax or attend to other tasks.

5. Upon completion, Anti-Malware will present a detailed report containing all the detected malicious items and threats on your PC.

The Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam was Found

6. Select all the identified items from the report and confidently click the "Clean Now" button. This action will safely remove the malicious files from your computer, transferring them to the secure quarantine zone of the anti-malware program to prevent any further harmful actions.

The Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam has been removed

8. If prompted, restart your computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. This step is crucial to ensure thorough removal of any remaining threats. After the restart, Gridinsoft Anti-Malware will open and display a message confirming the completion of the scan.

Remember Gridinsoft offers a 6-day free trial. This means you can take advantage of the trial period at no cost to experience the full benefits of the software and prevent any future malware infections on your system. Embrace this opportunity to fortify your computer's security without any financial commitment.

Trojan Killer for “Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam” removal on locked PC

In situations where it becomes impossible to download antivirus applications directly onto the infected computer due to malware blocking access to websites, an alternative solution is to utilize the Trojan Killer application.

Trojan Killer - Main View

There is a really little number of security tools that are able to be set up on the USB drives, and antiviruses that can do so in most cases require to obtain quite an expensive license. For this instance, I can recommend you to use another solution of GridinSoft - Trojan Killer Portable. It has a 14-days cost-free trial mode that offers the entire features of the paid version. This term will definitely be 100% enough to wipe malware out.

Trojan Killer is a valuable tool in your cybersecurity arsenal, helping you to effectively remove malware from infected computers. Now, we will walk you through the process of using Trojan Killer from a USB flash drive to scan and remove malware on an infected PC. Remember, always obtain permission to scan and remove malware from a computer that you do not own.

Step 1: Download & Install Trojan Killer on a Clean Computer:

1. Go to the official GridinSoft website (gridinsoft.com) and download Trojan Killer to a computer that is not infected.

Download Trojan Killer

2. Insert a USB flash drive into this computer.

3. Install Trojan Killer to the "removable drive" following the on-screen instructions.

Install Trojan Killer to Removable Drive

4. Once the installation is complete, launch Trojan Killer.

Step 2: Update Signature Databases:

5. After launching Trojan Killer, ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet.

6. Click "Update" icon to download the latest signature databases, which will ensure the tool can detect the most recent threats.

Click Update Button

Step 3: Scan the Infected PC:

7. Safely eject the USB flash drive from the clean computer.

8. Boot the infected computer to the Safe Mode.

9. Insert the USB flash drive.

10. Run tk.exe

11. Once the program is open, click on "Full Scan" to begin the malware scanning process.

Searching Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam Virus

Step 4: Remove Found Threats:

12. After the scan is complete, Trojan Killer will display a list of detected threats.

Searching Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam Finished

13. Click on "Cure PC!" to remove the identified malware from the infected PC.

14. Follow any additional on-screen prompts to complete the removal process.

Restart needed

Step 5: Restart Your Computer:

15. Once the threats are removed, click on "Restart PC" to reboot your computer.

16. Remove the USB flash drive from the infected computer.

Congratulations on effectively removing Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Email Scam and the concealed threats from your computer! You can now have peace of mind, knowing that they won't resurface again. Thanks to Gridinsoft's capabilities and commitment to cybersecurity, your system is now protected.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the biggest issues that spam can cause?

The only risk of this email is financial loss and an increase in similar scams in the future.

Can these threats be real?

The chance of threats being true is minimal. They are often scammers trying to fool naive users. Search for the scam text on Google – you will see info about thousands of same spam messages. There is no way someone can have that much compromising materials.

What should I do to the message?

Ignore, or even delete in from the inbox. Never reply scam messages, regardless of their contents. By replying to a message, you confirm that your mailbox is valid. Even if the current scam is unsuccessful, the scammers will know that this address is “live” and try to pull off other schemes.
How to Remove Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website Malware

Name: Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website

Description: Beware of the "Password Was Compromised Through A Legitimate Website" scam, which spreads through deceptive emails with subjects like "Careful, it's important." The scam falsely claims to have accessed personal data and threatens to leak content unless a Bitcoin payment is made. While email is not harmful, giving in to the demands could result in financial loss. We recommended ignoring the email, marking it as spam, and blocking the sender to prevent further targeting.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Malware

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About the author

Brendan Smith

I'm Brendan Smith, a passionate journalist, researcher, and web content developer. With a keen interest in computer technology and security, I specialize in delivering high-quality content that educates and empowers readers in navigating the digital landscape.

With a focus on computer technology and security, I am committed to sharing my knowledge and insights to help individuals and organizations protect themselves in the digital age. My expertise in cybersecurity principles, data privacy, and best practices allows me to provide practical tips and advice that readers can implement to enhance their online security.

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