One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
FBI Announces Probe of Celebrity Nude Hacking Ring, After Naked ScarJo Pics Show Up On the Internet
The FBI announced today that it was investigating a ring of hackers believed to have targeted the personal e-mail accounts and cell phones of more than 50 female celebrities. This announcement came just hours after nude photos from Scarlett Johansson's cell phone surfaced on the internet.
The FBI is not saying which celebrities have been victimized, but sources with TMZ confirmed that Johansson has been in touch with the FBI about the photos.
Other celebrities who are believed to be victims of this hacking ring, include Miley Cyrus, Jessica Alba, Demi Lovato, Ali Larter, Christina Aguilera and Vanessa Hudgens. Hudgens went to the FBI in March, TMZ reported.
"The FBI is investigating the person or groups responsible for the computer intrusion of high-profile figures in Los Angeles," spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
The feds have been cracking down hard on hacking recently. A Santa Ana man who hacked into the computers of more than 100 women — none of them celebrities — and shared nude photos and extorted them was handed a 6-year sentence in prison.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
