| News, February 25, 2005 |
Paris Hilton hacking victim?
The sultry starlet's personal
information was compromised; investigation ongoing says T-Mobile |
|
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Paris Hilton has
a problem keeping her personal life personal.
The slinky socialite's latest saga involves highly sensitive details,
including phone numbers and personal notes, posted for all to see on the
Internet in what could be a case of mobile device hacking.
A spokesman for T-Mobile confirmed earlier reports that information from
Paris Hilton's star-studded address book has been posted online.
"Her information is on the Internet," said Bryan Zidar. "We don't know
if it was hacked or if someone got a hold of her password."
According to Zidar, Hilton used the Sidekick II, a multi-purposed
personal electronic device that uses an online server to store at least
some information, including phone numbers.
While Zidar said it is possible for the information on that device to be
hacked from the company's server remotely, the company is still
investigating the specifics of Hilton's case.
Zidar said that since Sunday night a number of sites had posted Hilton's
personal contacts, but the sites kept changing as the Secret Service,
which Zidar said investigates computer crimes, shuts them down. "As soon
as one comes up the secret service is all over it," he said.
Names on Hilton's contact list include Christina Aguilera, Anna
Kournikova, Ashlee Simpson, Fred Durst, Eminem, Usher, Avril Lavigne,
Lil' John, Ashley Olsen, Vin Diesel and the charity Feed the Children,
according to e-mails from people who captured some of the posted
listings.
A software security expert said anyone who uses Web-based technology to
store personal information is potentially at risk. "If they were able to
target her, it would probably take even fewer steps to get information
from random people," said Gregg Mastoras of Sophos, a UK-based software
security company. Mastoras said that while security issues surrounding
mobile devices were not one of his top concerns, he said the growing
popularity of the devices coupled with wireless technology such as
Bluetooth, which allows them to communicate with one another even while
they are not in use, is opening the door for greater problems. He cited
one virus known as Cabir, which spreads over smart phones. The virus
infects the phone's software and turns all its icons into skulls and
crossbones, rendering them useless.
"We expect to see some viruses out there that will do some pretty
interesting stuff," he said.
Mastoras said that while the viruses
could cause the loss of data on a mobile phone such as contact numbers,
the phone itself could most likely be repaired by reinstalling the
software. As far as protection from hackers or thieves, Zidar said users
could better guard themselves by choosing a difficult password and not
giving it out to anyone, not responding to suspect online solicitations
for their password and by contacting their service provider should the
device be stolen or lost
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