FBI agents confirmed in a press conference today that “Operation Hackerazzi” has yielded a suspect. Authorities arrested Floridian Christopher Chaney, 35, in connection with a hacking and wire tapping operations that violated the privacy of celebrities including Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Hudgens, Jessica Alba, Mila Kunis, and Christina Aguilera. According to agents, Chaney used open-source technology for more than a year to learn victims’ passwords and change them, then communicated via e-mail with their personal contacts, harvesting friends’ email addresses to find new victims.
“These hackers are very, very sophisticated,” said Steven Martinez, assistant director in charge of the FBI Los Angeles area. “It is a constant cat-and-mouse game.” Added Martinez, “This is not just a celebrity issue.” The agents said they had no information to suggest that [Chaney] profited” from the naked photos of celebrities including Johansson, though he did commend stars like Johansson for allowing their names to be put forth to assist in the capture of the hacker. Chaney made his first court appearance in Jacksonville, Fla. He faces up to 120 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Agents confirmed that the Bureau is open to the possibility that more hackers could be identified. “These people are, quite frankly, scum.”
This man is a hero!
Arrest him for any Christina Aguilera pictures, but give him a medal for the rest!
I have a hard time being too interested. Seems like the FBI should be focused on computer crimes of greater consequence, like child porn or wire fraud or identity theft. I feel for Scarlett Johannson and the others, and maybe this guy did more than hack celebrities’ phones, but it seems like a distraction from larger issues.
So if your house is ever robbed or your car stolen and the cops say that they can’t help you becuase they’re too busy solving murder cases, you’d be fine with that?
Maybe you’re a hacker yourself?? This goes out to the many computer nerds/hackers who think they can get away with doing harmful, senseless things via the internet…make an example out of him! haha!! I hope that dude never gets to use a computer again…35 yrs old…probably does in fact have child porn too
Throw the book at the person who hacked into their phones. It was identity theft and anyone who commits a crime such as identity theft, stealing, or robbery should face the maximum amount of years in jail and the maximum amount of menetary fines. These criminals steal from everyone, rich and famous, poor and unknown. Bring them to justice. If they want money, they can get a job and work for a paycheck, like the rest of the human race.
I do think he should get the book thrown at him, but 125 years? Crazy how other crimes such as multiple DUI’s , child porn, molestation, etc. that are in the news get so much less jail time.
I mean 120 years.
Agreed. Anyone would prefer nude photos of himself/herself being released than 125 years, which means that the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
Great article. I can¡¯t wait to hear more about your research tool. If it is as good as your other products, then you will have another winner. Your article pretty much summed up what I have been seeing too. Great to see some hard data.
Thanks for interesting blog post. You guys are always provide information that it makes it impossible not to want to buy your next product ;I can¡¯t wait to see what you guys come up with based on all your research and data that you gather.
You¡are¡amazing! This weblog is so great. I really hope a lot more people read this and get what you are saying, ¡¯cause let me tell you, it¡¯s critical stuff. I never would have thought about it this way unless I would run into your web site. Thanks for sharing it. I hope you¡¯ve excellent achievement.