Brian Greenberg :verified:<p>Here comes the inevitable and ugly evolution of the sextortion scam. For years, these scams have been pure social engineering, a bluff based on a stolen password list. Now, we are seeing malware that actually executes the threat: it compromises a machine, activates the webcam, and captures an image for blackmail.</p><p>The psychological impact of a real photo versus a fake claim is massive, making this far more effective. It is a stark reminder that the simplest scams are often the most durable, and they will always evolve to incorporate new tech. The core defense remains the same, though: basic security hygiene, endpoint protection, and maybe some old-school tape over your webcam.</p><p>TL;DR<br>A classic sextortion scam has been upgraded with real spyware.<br>📸 The malware compromises a target's device and secretly takes a picture using their own webcam.<br>💰 This real photo is then used as credible leverage for a much more convincing blackmail attempt.<br>✅ This raises the stakes significantly, but defense still comes down to fundamentals like endpoint security and user awareness.</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/09/sextortion-with-a-twist-spyware-takes-webcam-pics-of-users-watching-porn/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">arstechnica.com/security/2025/</span><span class="invisible">09/sextortion-with-a-twist-spyware-takes-webcam-pics-of-users-watching-porn/</span></a><br><a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Cybersecurity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cybersecurity</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Malware" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Malware</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Sextortion" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Sextortion</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/Privacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Privacy</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/security" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>security</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/privacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>privacy</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/cloud" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cloud</span></a> <a href="https://infosec.exchange/tags/infosec" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>infosec</span></a></p>