We Are Not Going To Steal A Lot Of Time Email Scam

What is "We are not going to steal a lot of time"?

"We are not going to steal a lot of time" is a typical scam proliferated by sending many threatening emails. Scammers use the emails to trick people into paying to prevent compromising material (in this case a video) being distributed. The video does not actually exist.

Note that there are many similar scam campaigns, and they should never be trusted. If you receive the "We are not going to steal a lot of time" email, the best option is to simply ignore it.

This email scam contains a message from scammers who claim that they have infected about 1100 computers with a malicious program (malware). They state this happened when recipients of the email were visiting a pornography website and clicked the 'play' button.

Clicking this button caused installation of the aforementioned malware that is supposedly capable of using a computer webcam. Scammers claim that they used the webcam to record a humiliating video of the recipient watching the pornographic video. Furthermore, they claim that they have stolen social media passwords and made a copy of all contacts.

Scammers behind this email threaten that they will proliferate the humiliating/compromising video to all of the victim's contacts unless $450 (in Bitcoins) is paid to a Bitcoin wallet provided.

This is a typical scam and should not be trusted. Your computer is not infected with their virus and they did not record videos using your webcam. Delete this email and never trust any other scam of this type.

Many scammers use various email campaigns for the same purpose: to extort money from recipients of emails by making them believe that scammers have obtained compromising material (humiliating photos, videos, and so on) that can be used against them.

A few examples of other similar scam campaigns are I Am A Spyware Software Developer, So I'm The Hacker Who Broke Your Email, and I'm A Programmer Who Cracked Your Email. Some of these campaigns are used to infect computers with viruses through presented malicious attachments.

Cyber criminals send emails that contain Microsoft Office documents, PDF documents, archive files, executables (.exe) or other files that, if opened, download and install high-risk infections. Cyber criminals often proliferate viruses such as LokiBot, TrickBot, Emotet, AZORult, Adwind, and other similar infections.

Malicious programs of this type steal passwords, banking details, and other personal information that can be used to generate revenue.

Thus, having a computer infected with these viruses often results in financial loss, problems with browsing safety, privacy, and other issues. Some of these infections might be designed to proliferate other malicious programs such as ransomware.

We receive a great deal of feedback from concerned users about this scam email. Here is the most popular question we receive:

Q: Hi pcrisk.com team, I received an email stating that my computer was hacked and they have a video of me. Now they are asking for a ransom in Bitcoins. I think this must be true because they listed my real name and password in the email. What should I do?

A: Do not worry about this email. Neither hackers nor cyber criminals have infiltrated/hacked your computer and there is no video of you watching pornography. Simply ignore the message and do not send any Bitcoins. Your email, name, and password was probably stolen from a compromised website such as  Yahoo (these website breaches are common). If you are concerned, you can check if your accounts have been compromised by visiting the haveibeenpwned website.

How do spam campaigns infect computers?

Spam email campaigns that are used to infect computers through attachments can only do damage to systems/computers if the malicious attachment is downloaded and opened. Note, however, that different files infect computers in different ways. If the attachment is a Microsoft Office document, it will demand permission to enable macro commands (if opened).

Enabling these commands gives the malicious attachment permission to download/install viruses. Archive files need to be extracted first, malicious executables, executed, and so on. In summary, the attachments cannot do any damage if they remain unopened.

How to avoid installation of malware?

If you receive an email from an unknown, untrustworthy or suspicious address, or the email context is irrelevant to you, do not open the presented link or attachment. Furthermore, do not download software using untrustworthy, unofficial websites, third party downloaders, and so on.

Install/download software with care: check all available settings or options such as "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual". Deselect additionally-included apps that you do not wish to download/install, and only then complete the installation. Never use third party software updaters, since these are classed as untrustworthy and they often install viruses rather than the promised updates.

Use functions or tools provided by official software developers. Use Microsoft Office versions no older than version 2010. Later versions have "Protected View" feature that prevents malicious attachments from downloading and installing malware or other threats of this kind.

If you have already opened malicious attachments, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate infiltrated malware.

Text presented in the "We are not going to steal a lot of time" email message:

Subject: Edie Falco and Sopranos stars have family reunion in NYC with the... nontyaw
Dear Megan Schwartz
You can easily get off - ( DEB ) delivered by participant with the number:801
____

We are not going to steal a lot of time... Take it seriously. Our group will not ruin your life if you go to a deal with us.
There are too many various specifications about security on the web space- proхy , install the latest system protectors, close cameras with a scotch. But it was neglected by you.
I counted something about 1100 computers which emplaced my malware...
It was implemented on faked site of flash plug-in. People downloaded it and did not suspect any danger, because this software is necessary for all devices to process videos in web...
You were not eхception and now also have big problems.
Our inbuilt parser responded to web-pages with porn that you were visiting. Directly after you clicked on a play button the malware turned on the web-camera to shoot you paying with yourself. Later the computer worm made a copy of the movie which you were watching on your device. With the help of formgrabber deleted coockies and stolen all passwords from your social media which you have visited from last Tuesday. I made a copy of your contacts with your mates.
Let's put it all together... we have vid with you paying with yourself; contacts with your matesand movie that you were watching on the device.
If you do not want to be dishonored just send me 450 united states dollars with bitcoin.
It is my wallet number - 1425bbFBXW81ycj25PYMtRQtHKPVxfqgxj, 14JLSAk9TKR6hVFswC6oRPoeAcydSecLFX, 1H3Lap6KvPajEMSVSTecQ6zJaFHvV4FmMa, 1EtkXcUaRuZqK8Lvoe4QRtjM3zBjoxKtnK, 1Nic4CFBGdy8QBEnJPFMmBBR7Nz8tfu9ve, 1NpcMaFyBd5jCMdf5Q83keBfEsoc4BoAh3, 19bXWxSNQbxXBQ9wuFSjyTBdiBcG59ivra, 1HrXjGDeD54LVT83MTrvRPZpk3kpAApNwb, 1Jr3ksswMQ9Wgw1T4VnJCq55SH1iqRyTuF, 1L6ZB2JG7vsYhr6hZCB75iX1j2aUJSXUjo, 1C4HdTTucQ8AY9zybZ3kAW1kj2rZv8k5wH, 1HTqQjPHF5ELyVBefsK4UTZhyZvJYxZXdQ
Decide yourself: become popular or pay this little sum to safe your social status.
Cops cant help. We use bot network, moreover I live abroad. You cant find my ip in a header of this message.
For some questions just reply.
Think twice.

Second variant of "We are not going to steal a lot of time" scam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: account yiftsoosp

Dear -

Maybe next time you will hide your camera- ( OLu ) from bot numero:1175

I do not want to laugh at you... Read our message carefully. Our crew doesnt want to hurt you if you obey.

You can find a lot of varied manuals about safe web surfing- connections only throug proхy servers , download actual antivirus base; clip web cam with the tape. In your opinion this is silly.

I counted more than 900 soft marks which installed my malware...

It was placed in illegitimate web-site with flash plug-in... Users installed everything and did not suspect any danger, as you know this plug-in is necessary for operative systems to process videos in web.

You were not exception and now also have big problems.

Our inbuilt parser reacted to your requests for porn sites. Instantly when the play button was tapped my soft activated your webcam to catch you paying with yourself. After the malicious software sent the link of a vid that you opened on your screen. With the help of form grab. deleted coockies and collected all passwords from your social media that were visited from previous Monday. We made a copy of the contact list of your friends, collegues and relatives.

Let's sum up the results... we have record with you paying with yourself, contacts with your mates; movie which you opened on your device.
If you do not want to be dishonored just pay me 490 united states dollars in btc cryptocurrency.
Pay here -
1KpioVDQJ47uQ8vepwwtaKDwUpyWLXV8cJ, 19ZMFx4yDB7u7g6fBghQS7r2qouebeSZD2, 1HobmRJRA3SyqhTW7Yf4AiPFpCKbTQed8a, 1k7YCQBgMm91j9TjNZrqtouSkD1ay1tTw, 15g2SvwcrLmWew93MDrqfzwPvCGHutnMtQ, 14pcQCMwE1CqkuQDndMsdWNkREXt7qcCd2, 1M1QHnLf6Cmc3yJskrYXX91U1pP7spKhef, 1P6iqrsvV4Xn2A1gxJfvHs3qF8iCaiKMAp, 1DCoG4fxNNZAJS3oesZxfvsDNioFukzakj, 14ABznQQd48f8ZCFLhjsRSiaVLWwAoA5MR, 1QzBGQrnkPbXMU38rvH9mwuqErY9azE5v, 14QGh3FWhWwrMEx2BhHjLcSJcyD73Rhe24

Decide yourself- be a star among friends or pay little bit not to lose your habitual life.
You can complain cops, but they can not find us. I use anonymous bot system, also I do not live in your country. You cant find my ip in a header of this message.
For some questions just reply.
Think better.

Third variant of "We are not going to steal a lot of time" scam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: your account nosscren

Your family counts on your intelligence ; ( vNu ) from vps number:2464

I do not want to scoff at you... Read this letter attentively. My group will not spoil you social status if you follow our advices...

You can find a lot of varied specifications about security on the web space: using proxy ; download the latest antiviruses, hide web cam with the tape... But it was neglected by you.

There are 1550 victims that were infected by my virus.

I implemented it in faked site of adobe player... Victims downloaded everything and did not suspect any danger, because this soft must be downloaded on all devices to play video files.

You were not exception and now also have big problems.

Our inbuilt parser responded to your requests for porn sites. Directly when the play button was tapped the malware activated your camera to catch you masturbating. Right after that my virus copied the video which you were watching on your device. With form-grabber demolished history and collected all details from your accounts that you have visited from previous week. We made a copy of the contacts of your friends, collegues and relatives.

Let's put it all together: we have record with you caressing your body; contact list of your mates, movie which you were watching on the device.
If you want to avoid the shame you must pay us 650 united states dollars with btc cryptocurrency.
It is our wallet number -
1KpioVDQJ47uQ8vepwwtaKDwUpyWLXV8cJ, 19ZMFx4yDB7u7g6fBghQS7r2qouebeSZD2, 13KFgfRnwa65pb3qBaj5jtLr94jJj5hetT, 1FpcMDZxNa4DFRcZjAqNBHji5egA6WTu5X, 1GW77UfKwVUBFMbypYftqPxAcx2jgYTqBG, 1Q62hWRHJMhFpQmdaNWkDyNSzVFZPmNaGR, 19eLbQK2QvsnGvBjXWtzhtuCuUtufhTnDw

Decide yourself- be a star among friends or pay this little sum not to lose your habitual life.
Cops cant help. We write you through our anonymous bot system, also we live abroad. You cant find my ip in a header of this message.
If you have some problems write me back.
Dont be fullish.

Fourth variant of "We are not going to steal a lot of time" spam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: account prokfosh

Do not regret the decision; ( djk ) from vds with the number:8119

____

I will not joke about you. Read this letter attentively. Our crew doesnt want to ruin your life if you follow our advices.

There are too many various specifications about safe internet surfing: using proxy servers , update actual antivirus base, close webcameras with the scotch. But you think that this is not necessary.

I counted more than 1050 victims that downloaded my virus...

It was placed in faked web-page with adobe player. Victims downloaded everything and did not suspect any danger, because this plug-in must be downloaded on all computers to process videos in web...

You were not exception and now also have big problems.

With the help of a parser reacted to calls to porn-sites in your connections. Directly after the play button was pushed the malicious soft activated your camera to catch you paying with yourself. After the computer worm sent the link of the vid that you opened on the computer. With form grab. deleted coockies and stolen all details from your accounts that were visited since previous Tuesday. We copied the contact list with your mates.

Let's sum up the results. we have vid with you masturbating; contact list with your friends, collegues and relatives; video which you were watching on your device.

If you do not want to be dishonored you must pay me 800 united states dollars with bitcoin.
It is our wallet number -

14JLSAk9TKR6hVFswC6oRPoeAcydSecLFX

Decide yourself- become popular or pay little bit not to lose your habitual life.
You can complain cops, but they can not find us. We use botnet, and of course we do not live in your country. IP in a header is not mine.
For some questions just reply.
Think better.

Fifth variant of "We are not going to steal a lot of time" spam email:

Text presented within this email:

Subject: your account groospvund

Dear ***********

I advise you not to do this any more : ( SbE ) from bot #:3071

____
We will not scoff at your problem. Read our message carefully. Our squad doesnt want to poison your life if you go to a deal with us.

You can find a lot of varied specifications about safe internet surfing- proxy , download the latest antivirus base, hide web cam with a tape. In your opinion it is not necessary.

I counted more than 1150 computers that were infected by my private computer worm...

It was placed in counterfeit internet page of flash plug-in... Users installed everything and didnt surmise something bad, because this software should be installed on all devices to play video files...

You have also fallen for my bait.

My built-in parser reacted to your requests for porn sites. Instantly after the play button was pushed the malicious soft activated the camera to catch you caressing your body. Right after that the computer worm copied a vid that you watched on your computer. With the help of form grab. deleted coockies and stolen all passwords from your social media which were visited since previous Friday. We made a copy of your contacts with your friends, collegues and relatives.

Let's sum up the results. I got record with you masturbating; contact list with your friends, collegues and relativesand video which you opened on the screen.

If you want to avoid the shame just send us 650 united states dollars in btc cryptocurrency.
Pay here - 14JLSAk9TKR6hVFswC6oRPoeAcydSecLFX, 19MzyQCboSV9sS46nnqgZB54DTcgkp7YtL, 12BTouEjWdich7cbP4CjrjCK2ZRjGfXmNQ, 1H4qTR7fq7rMhfKnD8QPXVBJ8yciLycLHU, 1LM5v5dN9t9zsgGivCAiWwbimQJnnazLNV, 1GEwHyLaZEkAbFZGLhJLtg8Y8VDKT1vtY3, 1KGnSUjhtQrG6DKM394d9j7ihGcYb3V1t5, 1BhLEhVD48MEo1bW7fVhdrtWEtWSWZDNfC, 1EWDK5AsRpvYr519Yu2PGy6zZBzKY7LgQG, 1LhAosMbw5eahVtJAuuUstcN3eS6hiKHLr, 1AzZJRBPydfzQRGe5y3v6AE3vetmF9BEih, 146Z71rkCpWRmHnL9BQQg3s9WHLsMp1qQ9

Think better: become popular or pay little bit to safe your social status.
You can complain cops, but they can not find us. I use anonymous bot system, moreover we do not live in your country. IP in a header is not mine.
If you have some problems write me back.
Dont be fullish.

Another variant of this email scam:

Text presented in this variant:

Camera ready,Notification: 25-02-2019 08:47:37
Status: Waiting for Reply 95xuNaJy1A5f18wDnGmHkR8BrI0Wy58Uu5_Priority: Normal
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Howdy,dear user of 123456@pcert.postecert.it
During all your life u was notified to surf web catiously,but you didnt.Whats the problem?
U are thinking right now.The whole point is that I set the malicious soft on a web-site with videos for adults (Рorn web-page) (u know whats up).
Object clicked on a play button and device began working as rdp with keylogger function.Moreover all cams and screen immediately started recording.Then my virus got all ur contacts from messengers,e-mails and social networks.
So whatsup? I created a double screen video (1st part-screen rec.(you have a nice interests lmao),second- cam rec.) and all your contacts. Consequently in my opinion 550 usd is fairly for that petite misstep.
My btc wallet address: 12r21bguQUYernkBBWZfy1voJ1Z8osFrre
Ask internet how to buy it.It is not very hard.Just write "how to get bitcoins" Ill wait 1 day after opening this letter(I placed a tracking pixel in it,Ill see when you read it).If I don't recieve my bitcoins All your contacts will recieve video with you When I get btc- the compromising will be destroyed.If u charge me to give proofs,reply "yeah" and Ill 10 contacts Ive collected from u.
Can go to cops,but searching me is more long-lasting than 1 day,im from Hungary,so ull be a star among friends.

Instant automatic malware removal:

Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:

By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by RCS LT, the parent company of PCRisk.com.

Types of malicious emails:

If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file from a suspicious email, run a full system scan with Combo Cleaner. If you only received the email and didn't engage with it, you don't need to scan anything - just identify the scam and delete it. The full procedure below covers both situations and what to do if you already clicked, replied, or sent money.

Credential theft Phishing emails

Fake login pages disguised as PayPal, Microsoft, Apple, banks, or social networks. The email pushes a link to a near-perfect copy of the real login screen. The moment you type your username and password, the attacker has them.

Common subject lines

• "Action required: confirm your account"
• "Your password expires today"
• "Unusual sign-in attempt detected"
• "Verify your billing information"

Malware delivery Emails with malicious attachments

Trojans hidden inside fake invoices, faxes, shipping confirmations, or Office documents. Opening the attachment runs the payload and infects the system - often with an info-stealer or remote-access trojan.

Common subject lines

• "Invoice INV-2026-XXXX attached"
• "Fax received - 3 pages"
• "Your shipping document is ready"
• "Voicemail from +1-XXX-XXX-XXXX"

Extortion Sextortion emails

Fake claims of webcam recordings demanding cryptocurrency. Almost always a bluff: the attacker pulls a real password from an old data breach to make the threat look credible, then claims to have video of you. They have no recording and no access.

Common subject lines

• "I know your password is XXXX"
• "Your account has been hacked"
• "I have recorded you - 48 hours to pay"
• "You have been compromised"

Callback fraud Refund & callback scams

"Your subscription was renewed for $499 - call to cancel." Norton, McAfee, Geek Squad, PayPal, and Wells Fargo variants are all common. There's no real subscription. The phone number in the email connects directly to the scammer, who walks you through "refunding" yourself - which is actually them stealing money from your bank.

Common subject lines

• "Norton subscription auto-renewed - $499.99"
• "McAfee Total Protection invoice"
• "Geek Squad order confirmation"
• "Your PayPal payment is being processed"

Credential theft Account suspension & verification scams

"Your account will be deleted in 24 hours - verify now." The artificial deadline is the whole point: it pressures you to click before checking details. The "verify" link goes to a phishing page styled to look like the real provider.

Common subject lines

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Suspicious activity detected - verify now"
• "Final warning: account closure"
• "Action required to keep your account active"

Mixed payload Delivery & package scams

Fake DHL, USPS, UPS, or FedEx tracking, customs fees, or "package undeliverable" notices. Targets anyone expecting a parcel - the timing alone catches many people. The link hides either phishing (asking for card details to "release" the package) or a malware download.

Common subject lines

• "Your DHL package is held at customs"
• "USPS - delivery attempt failed"
• "FedEx tracking update - action required"
• "Pay $2.99 redelivery fee to release your parcel"

Remote access Tech support scams

Fake Microsoft, Apple, or "Windows Defender" security alerts pushing a phone number. Real Microsoft and Apple never email a phone number to call. The number connects you to a scammer who asks for remote access to "fix" the imaginary problem and then demands payment.

Common subject lines

• "Microsoft Defender expired - renew now"
• "Apple ID security alert"
• "Critical: virus detected on your PC"
• "Windows license expired - call now"

Wire fraud Advance-fee scams

Inheritance, lottery wins, romance, or business deals that ask for a small fee to release a much larger sum. The classic "Nigerian prince" 419 family of frauds. Once you pay the first fee, more fees appear (taxes, lawyer, transfer charges) until you stop paying. The promised money never exists.

Common subject lines

• "Inheritance from a relative you didn't know about"
• "You won the international lottery"
• "URGENT - business proposal worth $XX million"
• "Compensation fund release for fraud victims"

Wire fraud Business email compromise (BEC)

CEO impersonation asking employees to wire money or buy gift cards, or fake supplier invoices with newly "updated" bank details for payment redirection. The email often spoofs a real internal executive's display name and uses an external lookalike domain.

Common subject lines

• "Quick task - need you to buy gift cards"
• "Updated banking details for invoice payment"
• "Wire transfer request - urgent"
• "Are you available?" (CEO impersonation opener)

How to spot a malicious email?

Phase 1~ 2 min

Spot - identify the red flags

---

1

Check the sender's actual address, not the display name

30 sec

The display name (the human-readable part) is trivial to fake. Always check the full address that comes after it. Common red flags:

• Domain mismatch - service@paypa1.com, support@micros0ft-help.com, look-alike domains using digits or extra hyphens
• Free-email impersonation - any "official" message from a bank, courier, or platform sent from a @gmail.com, @outlook.com, or @yahoo.com address
• Reply-To mismatch - the From address looks legitimate but Reply-To points somewhere completely different

Why this matters

Real companies own their domains and send mail from them. A "DHL" message from a Gmail address is never legitimate, regardless of how convincing the body looks.

2

Watch for urgency, threats, and generic greetings

30 sec

Scams almost always rush you. The point is to make you act before you think. Treat any of the following as a strong signal:

• "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours"
• "Final notice" / "Immediate action required"
• "Dear Customer" or "Dear User" instead of your real name
• Threats of fines, account closure, legal action, or arrest
• Promises of refunds, prizes, or money you didn't earn
• Spelling and grammar mistakes in messages claiming to come from a major brand

3

Hover over every link before clicking

30 sec

On a desktop, hover the mouse over the link without clicking. The real destination shows in the bottom-left status bar of your browser or email client. On a phone, long-press the link to preview the URL.

• Real Microsoft, PayPal, or bank links go to those exact domains, not redirects through unrelated sites
• Shortened URLs (bit.ly, tinyurl, t.co) hide the real destination - never click them in unsolicited mail
• The visible link text and the actual URL must match - mismatches are the single biggest phishing red flag

Pro tip

When in doubt, don't click the link. Open a new browser tab and type the company's address yourself, then log in normally. If there really is an issue with your account, you'll see it there.

4

Treat unexpected attachments as hostile

30 sec

If you didn't ask for the file, don't open it - even if it appears to come from someone you know. Categories that should never be opened from email without verification through another channel:

• .exe, .scr, .iso, .img, .vbs, .bat - executables, never legitimate attachments
• .docx, .xlsx, .pptx with "Enable macros" prompts - the macros run the malware
• .pdf with "Click here to view" buttons - usually a phishing redirect, not a real document
• .zip, .rar, .7z archives, especially password-protected ones - the password defeats the email scanner

Phase 2~ 2 min

Report and delete - if you haven't engaged

---

If you only received the email and didn't reply, click, or open anything, the steps below are all you need. Your computer is not infected.

5

Don't reply, don't click "unsubscribe"

30 sec

Replying confirms your address is real and monitored, which gets you added to higher-value scam lists. The "unsubscribe" link in a scam message is rarely a real opt-out - it usually leads to a phishing page or downloads a tracking pixel.

Instead, mark the message as junk or phishing inside your email client (this trains the spam filter), then block the sender.

6

Report the scam to your email provider and authorities

1 min

Inside your email client:

• Gmail: open the message → ⋮ menu → Report phishing
• Outlook / Outlook.com: ⋯ menu → Report → Report phishing
• Apple Mail / iCloud: Move to Junk, then forward to reportphishing@apple.com

Forward or report to authorities:

• International: forward to reportphishing@apwg.org
• United States: ic3.gov (FBI)
• United Kingdom: forward phishing emails to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS); for financial loss report at reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
• Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
• Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
• EU: your national CERT - find yours via the ENISA CSIRT map

After reporting, delete the email and empty the Trash folder so you don't accidentally open it later.

Phase 3~ 10–60 min

Recover - if you already engaged with the scam

---

Pick the step below that matches what you did. If multiple apply, work through them in the order they appear - the steps are arranged from lowest to highest risk.

7

You only clicked a link (didn't enter anything or download anything)

Scenario: clicked link only10 min

Close the page right away. Don't enter any information, even if the page looks legitimate.

• Clear your browser cache and cookies for the last hour - Chrome/Edge: Ctrl+Shift+Del → Last hour → check Cookies and Cached files
• Run a quick scan with Combo Cleaner in case the page tried to drop a file silently (drive-by download)
• Update your browser to the latest version - most drive-by exploits target outdated browsers
• Watch for new browser pop-ups, redirects, or unfamiliar notifications over the next few days

Why this matters

Modern browsers block most drive-by attacks, but a single click on a phishing page can still be enough on an outdated browser or unpatched plugin. A quick scan catches anything that landed silently.

8

You opened an attachment or downloaded a file - run a full malware scan

Scenario: opened attachment⚠ Highest risk60–90 min

Opening an attachment is the most common path to actual infection. Treat the system as compromised until the scans below come back clean. Work through these sub-steps in order:

8.1Disconnect from the network

Unplug Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. If the attachment was an info-stealer or remote-access trojan, this stops it from sending data out or receiving commands. Keep the network off until you've booted into Safe Mode (next step) - you'll reconnect there briefly to download the scanners.

8.2Boot into Safe Mode with Networking, then download the scanners

Windows 11: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 5 or F5.

Windows 10: hold Shift, click Power → Restart → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press F5.

Once Safe Mode has loaded, turn Wi-Fi back on and download Combo Cleaner (used in 8.4) and Microsoft Safety Scanner (used in 8.5). Safe Mode loads only minimal drivers, so most malware can't auto-run while you're getting the tools. Save both installers to your Desktop.

8.3Run Microsoft Defender Offline

Reboot to normal Windows. Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Scan options. Select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now. The PC restarts into a stripped-down environment and scans the disk before Windows fully loads - this is what catches rootkits and bootkits.

Recommended antivirus

Combo Cleaner

VB100 certified. Includes anti-trojan, registry/persistence scanning, and anti-spyware in one pass. The 7-day free trial is available.

Download Combo Cleaner

8.4Run a full Combo Cleaner scan

Install Combo Cleaner and run a full system scan (not the quick scan). Let it complete fully, review what it found, and apply the recommended actions. Combo Cleaner will quarantine known trojans and remove their persistence in the registry.

8.5Run Microsoft Safety Scanner as a second-opinion scan

Download Microsoft Safety Scanner (MSERT.exe). The binary expires every 10 days, which means every download has the latest signatures. Run a full scan after Combo Cleaner to catch anything one engine alone might miss.

8.6Reset browsers and clear notification permissions

Many email-borne trojans drop adware that hijacks browsers. Reset each browser you use:

Chrome: chrome://settings/reset → Restore settings to their original defaults. Then chrome://settings/content/notifications - remove unfamiliar sites.

Edge: edge://settings/reset. Then edge://settings/content/notifications.

Firefox: about:support → Refresh Firefox.

8.7Re-enable Defender, Tamper Protection, and update everything

Open Windows Security → Virus & threat protection → Manage settings and confirm Real-time protection, Cloud-delivered protection, and Tamper Protection are all on. Then run Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates and update browsers and applications.

Important

If the scans keep finding new threats on each run, or files reappear after deletion, you may have a deeper compromise that needs a clean Windows reinstall. See pcrisk's full manual malware removal guide for the extended procedure (Process Explorer, Autoruns, hosts file inspection).

9

You entered credentials on a fake login page

Scenario: shared password⚠ Act fast20 min

Assume the attacker has your password and is using it right now. Speed matters.

1. Change the password from a different, known-clean device (your phone is fine if it's not infected). Don't reuse the old password anywhere else.
2. Enable two-factor authentication if you haven't already. Prefer an authenticator app or hardware key over SMS.
3. Sign out of all sessions - most platforms have a "sign out everywhere" option in security settings, which kicks the attacker out.
4. Review recent activity - look for unfamiliar logins, new devices, forwarding rules, or app permissions. Remove anything you don't recognize.
5. Check your other accounts - if you reused that password anywhere else, change it there too. Check your exposure at haveibeenpwned.com.
6. Update security questions - the attacker may have seen the answers in your account profile.

Why email comes first

If you only have time to change one password, change your primary email password - it's the recovery hub for every other account. An attacker who controls your email can reset everything else.

10

You sent money or shared bank, card, or ID details

Scenario: financial loss⚠ Contact bank now30 min

Time is the single biggest factor in recovering money. Banks can sometimes recall a wire or reverse a card transaction within the first few hours.

1. Call your bank or card issuer immediately. Use the number on the back of the card, not any number from the scam email. Ask them to freeze the card, reverse the transaction if possible, and flag the account for fraud monitoring.
2. If you sent a wire transfer or used a money-transfer service (Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle, Wise), call them directly and request a recall. Some can be reversed within minutes if reported fast.
3. If you sent cryptocurrency or gift cards, recovery is unlikely - but report it anyway, since law enforcement tracks these patterns.
4. File a police report. You'll need the report number for any insurance, bank, or credit-bureau claim. Save the report number.
5. File with the right authority for your country:
   • US: ic3.gov + reportfraud.ftc.gov
   • UK: reportfraud.police.uk (Report Fraud, the successor to Action Fraud; 0300 123 2040)
   • Canada: antifraudcentre.ca
   • Australia: scamwatch.gov.au
   • EU: your national CERT or police cybercrime unit
6. Set fraud alerts on all major credit bureaus if you shared any ID details. US: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion. UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion (Cifas Protective Registration is a stronger option).
7. Save all evidence - the original email (with full headers), screenshots of the fake site, transaction records, any phone numbers or chat logs.

Phase 4~ 15 min + 30 days

Verify & monitor

---

11

Final scan and startup-app check

15 min

Reconnect to the network and run one final full scan with Combo Cleaner, followed by a Windows Defender quick scan. Then open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and switch to Startup apps - disable anything unfamiliar.

Make sure Windows, browsers, and any applications you use are fully up to date. The infection vector that worked on you once usually involves outdated software.

12

Monitor accounts and credit for 30 days

5 min/day · 30 days

Most fraud follow-ups land in the first month. Until that window closes, keep watching:

• Bank and card statements - daily for the first week, then weekly
• Email - watch for password-reset confirmations or login alerts you didn't trigger
• Credit report - US: free at annualcreditreport.com; UK: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all have free tiers
• Breach alerts - sign up at haveibeenpwned.com to be notified when your email appears in new leaks

If anything new appears in any of those, treat it as a continuing compromise: change passwords again, contact the bank again, and update the police report.

Important: If you didn't click anything, didn't reply, and didn't open any attachment, your computer is not infected - just delete the email and move on. If you opened an attachment or downloaded a file, run an automated scan with Combo Cleaner and Windows Defender and stop there. That path catches the vast majority of email-borne malware without the risk of breaking Windows by deleting the wrong file.