Spyware Blackmail: Steps to Take After a Hack and Extortion Attempt

Bad news lands in your lap. You’ve been hacked and blackmailed.

A hacker claims to have infected your computer with spyware and has complete access to your desktop. They say they’ve been watching you and know all the sites you visit. They state they hacked your computer and demand payment via a link to stop them from releasing intimate or embarrassing content to your friends and family.

Spyware blackmail is a nightmare which more and more people are waking up to every day. If you’ve been hacked and blackmailed, you’re not alone. But there’s help. You can fight back and even prevent the release of sensitive material. You can bring these hackers to justice and make them pay.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know to verify the risk associated with this crime and protect your digital reputation.

Malware and Spyware and the Threat of Blackmail

Some of the most common malware types used for hacking and online blackmail include:

• Keyloggers: Malware that secretly records every keystroke a user types, recording sensitive information like passwords, usernames, and credit card details.
• Remote access Trojans (RATs): Malware designed to allow an attacker to remotely control an infected computer. Once installed, an attacker can send commands to the system and receive data back in response.

Ransomware: Malware that encrypts a victim’s data and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key, effectively holding the data hostage.

• Spyware works to gather sensitive information without detection. This data can later be used in blackmail attacks.

No device is immune from being hacked, including mobile devices. Mobile malware targets smartphones and tablets to steal data, spy on users, or take control of the owner’s applications.

How Malware and Spyware Are Deployed

Blackmail involving malware begins with an infected computer. Some of the most common malware infection vectors include:

• Phishing emails: Seemingly legitimate emails from a company, bank, or colleague, phishing emails involve fake links that download malware to a device.
• Malicious downloads: A user unknowingly downloads harmful files that could be disguised as legitimate software, an infected email attachment, or popup that claims the user’s software is outdated.
• Drive-by downloads: A user visits a compromised website that triggers an automatic malware download without the user’s knowledge.

Cybercriminals can also take advantage of security weaknesses in software to infiltrate and compromise computers, mobile devices, and networks. They can exploit coding flaws or outdated software. Malicious apps can also install spyware when disguised as legitimate applications, tricking users into granting excessive permissions.

Signs of Spyware Infection

Common signs of spyware infection include:

• Slow performance
• Frequent crashes or freezes
• Unauthorized access to accounts
• Increased data usage
• Battery drain
• Unusual pop-ups & ads

To identify suspicious processes on a computer, open Task Manager on a Windows computer or Activity Monitor on Mac and look for unfamiliar or high-resource consuming processes. Look for strange names, excessive memory usage, or unsigned processes running in the background.

For phones or mobile devices, go to settings go to Settings > Apps (Android) or Settings > Battery Usage (iPhone) to spot unknown apps consuming excessive power or data.

Immediate Actions to Take

If you have become a victim of malware blackmail or ransomware, you need to act fast to protect your data and online reputation. Here are some immediate steps to take.

Disconnect from the Internet

Disconnecting the device is crucial to prevent further data exfiltration. Unplug ethernet cables and disable the Wi-Fi.

To disable Wi-Fi on Windows:

1. Click the Start menu and open Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi.
3. Toggle the Wi-Fi switch to Off.
4. Alternatively, click the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and select Disconnect or Airplane mode.

To disable Wi-Fi On Mac:

1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu bar.
2. Select Turn Wi-Fi Off.
3. You can also go to System Settings > Wi-Fi and toggle it off.

On a phone, tap the Wi-Fi icon to disable it.

Do Not Pay the Blackmailer

If you have been a victim of spyware blackmail or ransomware, do not pay your blackmailer under any circumstances. Payment rarely solves the problem and often leads to excessive demands for additional money.

Document Everything

Next, you need to gather evidence. Take screenshots with time stamps of any blackmail messages, emails, and any evidence of unauthorized access. Save any suspicious files or logs.

Change Passwords Immediately

In the event of a data breach, change passwords for all affected accounts. Use strong unique passwords that contain several letters, at least one capital letter, and a few special characters. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever you can.

Isolate Affected Devices

If possible, prevent the affected device from being used until it has been cleaned.

How to Remove Malware and Spyware

After you’ve identified the source of the blackmail or data breach, removing any malware and spyware that led to the attack is critical. Here are a few tips and factors to keep in mind.

Use Reputable Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software

Install reputable antivirus and anti-malware software across all devices. We’d recommend:

• Norton
• TotalAV
• Bitdefender
• Surfshark
• McAfee

Once antivirus software has been installed, boot your computer into safe mode to perform scans in a limited environment:

1. Restart your computer,
2. Press F8 repeatedly during startup.
3. Select “Safe Mode” or “Safe Mode with Networking” from the Advanced Boot Options menu

Next, run your antivirus software to remove spyware or malware:

1. Run a scan.
2. Identify the threats.
3. Follow the software’s instructions to fix, quarantine, or delete them.
4. After the scan and threat removal, restart your computer to ensure changes are applied.
5. Run an additional scan to ensure the threats have been completely removed.

You can also disable suspicious software with the following steps:

• Open the Task Manager (Windows) or the Activity Monitor (Mac).
• Navigate to the “Startup” tab.
• Identify programs you don’t recognize or seem suspicious.
• Disable each program by selecting “Disable.”

Factory Reset or Reinstall Operating System

When a device experiences malware infections that can’t be resolved through other means, a factory reset or OS reinstall may be necessary. Before a factory reset, backup important files to an external drive, cloud storage, or USB flash drive for later data recovery. Make a list of installed programs to reinstall afterward.

Please be advised that a factory reset, or remote wipe of any system will result in the irretrievable loss of digital evidence, thereby precluding a thorough investigation.

Mobile Device Cleaning

To remove malicious apps from a mobile device:

1. Boot into safe mode to prevent the malware from running
2. Go to Settings > Apps (Android) or Settings > General > iPhone Storage (iOS).
3. Look for suspicious or unfamiliar apps.
4. Select the app and tap Uninstall or Delete App.

To factory reset your mobile device:

1. Back up your data for recovery later.
2. Go to Settings > System > Reset > Factory data reset (Android) or Settings > General > Reset (Mac).
3. Tap Reset Phone or Erase All Content and Settings
4. Enter your PIN/password or Apple ID to confirm.
5. The device will restart and begin the process to erase all apps, settings, and data.
6. Restore your backed-up data.

Report Spyware Blackmail to Authorities

If you have been a victim of malware blackmail or ransomware, it’s critical to report the crime to law enforcement authorities, including the local police and the FBI. You can report spyware blackmail to the FBI through the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the FBI’s central hub for reporting cybercrimes.

How Digital Investigation Inc. Can Help

If you have been hacked and blackmailed, Digital Investigation can assist with digital forensics, data recovery, and tracing attackers.

Our cybersecurity team utilizes advanced tracking tools to geo-locate your blackmailer. We gather digital footprints to identify key information that may expose their identity. We use this information as leverage to convince them to stop, delete the sensitive data, and leave you alone.

After the immediate threat, we provide ongoing monitoring of your online presence and offer guidance on how to safeguard against future incidents. We ensure future exposure is minimized and your safety is maintained.

Contact Digital Investigation Inc. today to achieve the best possible outcome, prevent the release of sensitive material, and protect your online reputation.

Call us today for a free consultation.