I have just received an email, purportedly from me, trying to sell me erectile meds. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING. Obviously not very smart hackers.
As far as I can tell it is only my email they are using. The Great Shalom does not and has never sold any pharmaceuticals. Certainly nothing of this variety.

GSB keeps no personal information of yours whatsoever, except if you have signed up for a subscription to the blog (not the audio), then your email is kept in a list by the program automatically.
We do not keep any identifying information and we do not have any financial information. Any purchases or donations are handled by PayPal, which has had a good reputation for privacy.

I have in the past few months experienced some jokers trying to blackmail me/GSB, using silly methods, making extremely silly claims. I have consulted two security professionals. The emails are turned over to the FBI’s investigation, yes really, and then forgotten. We are not blackmailable.

So, best advice for you is 1) ignore emails that are clearly spam, spoof, or phishing. Be sure that GSB is not doing any such thing, although many people can figure out how to use our address, largely because it is public. 2) Turn over to proper authorities anything that appears truly criminal and scary. 3) Know that we keep information as safe as possible and keep information about you almost not at all. 4) It is a good idea never to do anything illegal or unseemly because someone might want to blackmail you. Since we don’t, we are quite confident in ignoring any such attempts. 5) Keep all your information as safe as possible. This includes covering any cameras or mics on your phone or computer unless you intend to use them; and realizing that anything you send electronically can be spied on; and any computer can probably be hacked. Just make it as difficult as possible by using firewalls and highly rated security plans. Few people take this as seriously as I do.

So, like so many other things: 1) do the right things and then 2) don’t worry after that.

Love and blessings, Sister Sharon and the Great Shalom