Ransomeware

[VGP]

I received an email headed with my email address & password. It said it was carried out with Cisco router, vulnerability CVE-2018-0296.

It said it is driver software, constantly updated so my antivirus (Kaspaski) won't see it. The hacker has been following me via the VNC protocol.

He says the malware updates passwords every time so changing them is no use. He claims to have taken pictures & video via the camera and

has compromising info on me. I don't visit porn sites so he is bluffing there! He demands $857 paid into his Bitcoin cryptocurrency wallet within

48 hours or the info he has on me will be sent to all my contacts.

It appears to only effect my PC as I ran Malwarebytes on my laptop and it reports clean. 

I can remove and reinstall all software on my PC except the Windows 10 operating system. Will that remove the malware or is Windows 10 infected?

All advice and help apprecated.

[David H. Lipman]

This is purely a scam and they send those emails out en masse hoping one or two bite at the bait.  

Just delete the email and then change your email password to a new Strong Password just to make sure.

Additionally, you can enter your email address(es) in the following site and it will check to see if that email address was part of a known breach.

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

Please reference:
-----------------
MyOnlinesecurity - attempted-blackmail-scam-watching-porn
BleepingComputers - Beware of Extortion Scams Stating They Have Video of You on Adult Sites
Malwarebytes' Blog - Sextortion emails: They’re probably not watching you
Malwarebytes Forum sample thread - Got strange threating email.

 

[VGP]

Dave you are a diamond!! Thanks for your input. What bothered me was the fact he had my password so he does have access to my PC.