The online world is great but it can be really dangerous. Threats loom from every side and if we are not able to detect them on time, then we can have a lot of problems. Cyber extortion is something that has become common and we need to know how to prevent it from happening and how to protect ourselves.
Think about security
What we suggest is that you think about your security now before you ever get involved in these types of situations. What you need to do is make sure that you are as protected as possible. If you are already facing extortion, then you should look to mitigate the damage that can be done. Change all the passwords, and get rid of things that you can before they get access to them. It would be smart if you did that from a different location or if you told someone to take care of it for you because they may be listening. If you do not want to call the authorities, you should look for discreet services for victims of online extortion, which can teach you how to deal with these situations. It is vital that, in these situations, you do not panic and try to find good solutions.
Do not pay anything
What we suggest that you do is not pay anything to these people. The reason why is that you are never sure that they are going to keep their word, and they may continue to ask you for money or something else. If they see that you are willing to pay for something to not come out, even if they keep their word, who guarantees you that they won’t come back with another demand?
Inform the authorities
What you have to realize is that when dealing with extortion, most likely you won’t come unfazed by the whole deal and that the best chance that you have is to contact the authorities as soon as you realize what is happening. If you listen to what the criminals tell you, then you will be without any protection, no matter who is on the other end. They are controlling you. With the authorities, you will have someone who can go after the attackers. They have specialized cybercrime teams that are experienced in dealing with these cases. If the attackers are amateurs, most likely they will catch them. They are the best guarantee that you will come out unharmed from this exchange, while all the other options are simply worse.
Think about what you are doing online
The best way to prevent these things from happening is to consider what you do online. You cannot trust strangers, and people who seem friends now can quickly become enemies if they have a reason to. Be careful what you have on your computer; do not do anything illegal. By doing this, you have greatly protected yourself.
Cyberextortion is no joke. Every option that you have is not ideal but you need to be smart and understand your situation. Find the best way to deal with the issue and prepare yourself for the worst.