A US judge jailed a computer hacker for 10 years on Monday for breaking into the email accounts of stars, including Scarlett Johansson, naked pictures of whom were leaked online.
A federal judge in Los Angeles also ordered 36-year-old Christopher Chaney, from Florida, to pay a total of $76,000 (RM232,000) to Johansson, Christina Aguilera and Renee Olstead, who were among dozens of other people he hacked.
Chaney pleaded guilty in March, in a deal with prosecutors. He could have been jailed for up to 121 years if convicted on all 26 indictments he was originally charged with.
US District Court Judge S. James Otero, said Chaney's conduct demonstrated a "callous disregard to the victims," notably for two non-celebrity targets whom he stalked for more than 10 years.
"Illegal wiretapping gave Mr. Chaney access to every email sent to more than four dozen victims, and allowed him to view their most personal information," said US Attorney Andre Birotte Jr.
"Mr. Chaney is responsible for causing dozens of illegally obtained, private photographs to be posted on the Internet, where they were available for all to see."
He added: "This case is a sobering reminder that cybercrime poses a very real threat to every American, and everyone should take steps to safeguard their identities and personal information on the Internet."
His arrest by FBI agents in October last year grew out of an 11-month investigation into the hacking of over 50 entertainment industry names, many of them young female stars like Mila Kunis.
The indictments against him included accessing and damaging computers, wire tapping and identify theft.
Hacked pictures of Johansson, star of "The Horse Whisperer" and "Girl with a Pearl Earring," showed her in a state of undress in a domestic setting.
Aguilera's computer was hacked in December 2010, when racy photos of her also hit the Internet. Kunis' cell phone was hacked in September that year with photos of her, including one in a bathtub, spread online.
The FBI alleged that Chaney used open-source, public information to try to guess a celebrity's email password, and then would breach the account.
He then allegedly communicated directly with contacts found in the hacked email account's address list and searched the account for photos, information and other data.
To control the account, Chaney is alleged to have altered the email's account settings to go to a separate, unrelated e-mail address that he controlled.
After gaining complete access to the hacked account, Chaney then used the contact list to "harvest" new targets, according to the FBI.
Bill Lewis of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)'S LA office, said Monday: "For many victims, Mr. Chaney's actions were tantamount to breaking and entering of their private homes by a thief in the night.
"Mr. Chaney methodically targeted his victims based on their celebrity without regard for the law or the impact the theft of personal and intimate details would have to their lives.
"This case illustrates the need for cybersecurity vigilance by computer users and, in addition, may serve as a deterrent for anyone contemplating similar intrusions."
AFP
Mon Dec 17 2012
88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara dapat pengiktirafan JAKIM
Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) telah memberikan pengiktirafan kepada 88 badan pensijilan halal luar negara setakat Mei tahun ini.
eWarga Emas bentuk sistem penyampaian perkhidmatan berkesan, bersepadu - Noraini
Portal sistem warga emas (eWarga Emas) dibangunkan bagi membentuk sistem penyampaian perkhidmatan warga emas yang berkesan dan bersepadu.
MITRA lulus lebih RM95 juta untuk 11 program masyarakat India
Kesemua program yang dalam pelaksanaan itu memberi tumpuan kepada usaha memperkasakan sosioekonomi komuniti India dalam negara.
Kestabilan sosiopolitik Sabah bolehkan agihan ekonomi saksama - Juhar
Smber daya, kekayaan alam semula jadi dan potensi ekonomi dalam masyarakat dapat dibahagi dengan cara memberi peluang sama kepada rakyat.
Kenanga jangka OPR stabil 3.0 peratus pada 2025
Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd menjangka Kadar Dasar Semalaman (OPR) kekal stabil pada 3.0 peratus sepanjang 2025.
Johor sasar jumlah ternakan cecah 200,000 ekor pada 2027
Johor menyasarkan jumlah ternakan di negeri ini mencapai hingga 200,000 ekor pada 2027 setelah berjaya mencapai jumlah pengeluaran ternakan sebanyak 152,000 ekor hingga bulan lepas.
Hargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat dan penglibatan - Lee Lam Thye
Lee Lam Thye menekankan keperluan mendesak untuk menghargai warga emas melalui penjagaan, hormat, dan penglibatan yang lebih baik.
Malaysia perlu bersedia penuhi keperluan TBB yang semakin meningkat - Fadillah
Keperluan tenaga boleh baharu (TBB) di negara ini semakin meningkat seiring dengan keyakinan pelabur asing khususnya untuk mewujudkan pusat-pusat data.
Belanjawan 2025: Kesalinghubungan internet di sekolah, kampus jadi keutamaan - Fahmi
Fahmi berkata ia termasuk isu Internet di kawasan terpencil, pedalaman dan pulau-pulau dalam memastikan akses Internet berkelajuan tinggi lebih meluas.
Pelajar tahfiz perlu teroka bidang teknologi
Kira-kira 200,000 pelajar tahfiz di negara ini, perlu dipastikan untuk mempunyai kemampuan dan peluang menjadi tenaga penggerak kepada umat Islam Malaysia dalam meneroka bidang yang dahulu dilihat sebagai asing., tegas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Adam Levine & Blake Shelton bakal tinggalkan 'The Voice'?
Adam dan Blake telah berkhidmat sebagai juri dalam program itu selama 13 musim berturut-turut.
AF Megastar: Setiap kali naik pentas saya bagai dirasuk - Idayu
Bintang AF Megastar, Idayu akui tidak dapat menahan sebak lalu mengalirkan air mata ketika sedang beraksi di Konsert AF Megastar Homecoming,malam tadi.
Christina Aguilera bintang utama Twin Tower @Live 2014
Aguilera muncul pada malam pertama pada konsert yang akan berlangsung selama dua hari iaitu 28 dan 29 Mac ini.