Celebrity nude-photo hacker busted
Ryan Collins of Pennsylvania infiltrated dozens of iCloud accounts belonging to Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton and more
Jennifer Lawrence
Hacker Admits Stealing Nude Celebrity Photos
The hacker faces up to five years in federal prison for his role in “Celebgate,” or as it’s known in certain corners of the Internet, “The Fappening” (a reference to a slang term for male masturbation).
Ryan Collins has admitted to stealing online nude photos and videos from female celebrities.
Kate Upton
Those television and movie stars include Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Kirsten Dunst and Kim Kardashian. Also Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Lea Michele and Hillary Duff.
The FBI said Ryan Collins, 36, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, admitted guilt this week to two criminal charges. Both charges are for illegal use of computers, the FBI said.
The FBI’s announcement did not name the victims. But it said Collins obtained email and other private information from 122 people. Most are “female celebrities,” the FBI said.
The case has been called “Celebgate.”
Selena Gomez
The FBI said it has no evidence that Collins posted the nude photos and videos of female stars. Those images began appearing on the Internet in 2014.
But the assistant director at the FBI’s Los Angeles, California, office said Collins still did major harm.
Ariana Grande
The shockingly simple way the nude photos of ‘Celebgate’ were stolen
Collins allegedly gained access by setting up emails designed to look like official accounts associated with the Google or Apple services used by his celebrity targets. Some of the emails he used included “[email protected],” “[email protected],” and “[email protected],” according to court documents. Then, it seems that whoever was managing the personal accounts of several of the targeted celebrities complied, replying to those messages with the requested access information: the usernames and passwords for their accounts.
Vanessa Hudgens
Once he had that information, Collins also had access to everything stored within. He took photos and videos, and sometimes used “a software program to download the entire contents of the victims’ Apple iCloud backups,” the US attorney’s office said.
“By illegally accessing intimate details of his victims’ personal lives, Mr. Collins violated their privacy and left many to contend with lasting emotional distress, embarrassment and feelings of insecurity,” said Assistant Director David Bowdich.
Bowdich said the FBI investigation is continuing.
The FBI said this is how Collins operated: He would send the celebrities emails that appeared to be from Apple and Google. The emails asked for sign in and password information.
Collins used this information to download entire Apple iCloud accounts, including photos and videos, the FBI said.
Bowdich said the case shows the importance of not sharing personal information, such as email passwords. That goes for both stars and regular people, he said.
Apple and Google do not send emails asking for personal information, he said.
Federal prosecutors will recommend that Collins receive an 18-month prison sentence, according to a government press release.
Prosecutor Eileen Decker said Collin’s victims have a right to make statements and attend all hearings in his case.
The charges were announced in Los Angeles, California, where many of the victims lived. But the FBI said the case will be heard by a court in Pennsylvania, near Collins’ home.
Lea Michele
Collins is married and the father of two children, according to website Lancasteronline.com. It said Collins worked in a sales job and as an art director, but recently showed interest in working as a chef.
Hillary Duff
Kate Upton
Those television and movie stars include Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Upton, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Kirsten Dunst and Kim Kardashian. Also Vanessa Hudgens, Rihanna, Lea Michele and Hillary Duff.
The FBI said Ryan Collins, 36, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, admitted guilt this week to two criminal charges. Both charges are for illegal use of computers, the FBI said.
The FBI’s announcement did not name the victims. But it said Collins obtained email and other private information from 122 people. Most are “female celebrities,” the FBI said.
The case has been called “Celebgate.”
Selena Gomez
The FBI said it has no evidence that Collins posted the nude photos and videos of female stars. Those images began appearing on the Internet in 2014.
But the assistant director at the FBI’s Los Angeles, California, office said Collins still did major harm.
Ariana Grande
The shockingly simple way the nude photos of ‘Celebgate’ were stolen
Collins allegedly gained access by setting up emails designed to look like official accounts associated with the Google or Apple services used by his celebrity targets. Some of the emails he used included “[email protected],” “[email protected],” and “[email protected],” according to court documents. Then, it seems that whoever was managing the personal accounts of several of the targeted celebrities complied, replying to those messages with the requested access information: the usernames and passwords for their accounts.
Vanessa Hudgens
Once he had that information, Collins also had access to everything stored within. He took photos and videos, and sometimes used “a software program to download the entire contents of the victims’ Apple iCloud backups,” the US attorney’s office said.
“By illegally accessing intimate details of his victims’ personal lives, Mr. Collins violated their privacy and left many to contend with lasting emotional distress, embarrassment and feelings of insecurity,” said Assistant Director David Bowdich.
Bowdich said the FBI investigation is continuing.
The FBI said this is how Collins operated: He would send the celebrities emails that appeared to be from Apple and Google. The emails asked for sign in and password information.
Collins used this information to download entire Apple iCloud accounts, including photos and videos, the FBI said.
Bowdich said the case shows the importance of not sharing personal information, such as email passwords. That goes for both stars and regular people, he said.
Apple and Google do not send emails asking for personal information, he said.
Federal prosecutors will recommend that Collins receive an 18-month prison sentence, according to a government press release.
Prosecutor Eileen Decker said Collin’s victims have a right to make statements and attend all hearings in his case.
The charges were announced in Los Angeles, California, where many of the victims lived. But the FBI said the case will be heard by a court in Pennsylvania, near Collins’ home.
Lea Michele
Collins is married and the father of two children, according to website Lancasteronline.com. It said Collins worked in a sales job and as an art director, but recently showed interest in working as a chef.
Hillary Duff