The Israeli police have finally managed to nab the nefarious hacker who manage dot hack into the computers of some international pop stars (including the ageless diva Madonna). Having broken into their systems, the man would steal their songs and then leak them online, told the authorities. The cops were investigating the case following a report filed by Madonna.
The arrest came after the Israeli police launched an undercover operation to nab the criminal with help from the FBI, told the Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri. Madonna has expressed deep gratitude towards both the law enforcing agencies in a statement posted on her Facebook page Wednesday.
“I am profoundly grateful to the FBI, the Israeli Police investigators and anyone else who helped lead to the arrest of this hacker. I deeply appreciate my fans who provided us with pertinent information and continue to do so regarding leaks of my music.”
Talking about the hacking mastermind, Samri says he was born in Tel Aviv in 1976 and was believed to have sold the works of a number of artists online after stealing them from their computers.
“We have confiscated many materials and computer equipment from the suspect’s house and investigations are still under way.”
The stolen material included “songs that haven’t yet been released, sketches of songs, photos and other personal material,” Tamir Afori, Madonna’s attorney in Israel, told Haaretz.
The 38 year old has been charged of intellectual property theft and aggravated fraud, his sinister plans having left Madonna alone by a few million dollars!
In December 2014, unfinished tracks of Madonna’s ‘Rebel Heart’ were leaked online, much befoe the March 2015 scheduled March 2015 release of the album. Following the heist, the pop queen had posted a picture of a broken i-pod on her Instagram account- the broken device symbolizing her broken heart, she had said.
“This broken i-pod is a symbol of my broken heart! That my music has been stolen and leaked! I have been violated as a human and an artist!” she wrote.
“Like any citizen, I have the right to privacy. This invasion into my life – creatively, professionally and personally remains a deeply devastating and hurtful experience, as it must be for all artists who are victims of this type of crime,” Madonna said in a statement.
This case of hacking involving artists and celebrities highlights the scope of cyber crime. Coming closely on the heels of Sony hack, it has left many wondering if they can trust their computers for storing their most confidential and personal data at all!