Famed singer Adele is known for her big hits “Rolling in the Deep” and “Hello” but it turns out she is clueless when it comes to computer security. She is the latest to join the list of celebrities who have been hacked. Private information and personal photos are among the content stolen from the singer.
HACKER USED BACK DOOR TO GET TO ADELE
A hacker, who has wisely decided to remain anonymous, was reported to access Adele’s information through her fiance Simon Konecki. Using Konecki’s email account as a back door allowed the hacker to obtain private photographs of Adele during childhood, during pregnancy and even shots of her three-year-old son. The photos popped up on a private Facebook fan page for Adele who then promptly notified her management. As one can imagine, the singer was less than happy.
CELEBRITIES AT RISK
Adele is far from the only celebrity who’s private information has been violated. It will hardly be the last as well. So many devices and services are connected these days that it’s difficult to know what data is shared with third parties. When anything leaves your device, it will be at risk of interception. We put a lot of trust in the security of various apps. Those apps aren’t always secure however, and can easily be compromised by hackers. Celebrities may have their personal devices protected, but they are at increased risk to their large network of friends and fans. Celebrities can really only keep track of their own security, but with so much of their information being shared with others, they can;t guarantee that it will be safe out there.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR INFO PRIVATE
For starters, a strong password is a good way to protect yourself. Don’t use information that someone could guess and rotate the passwords frequently. When it comes to credentials, never save them on a device. Don’t store, write down, or provide your password in any way. In your email account, get rid of any private information that may be hiding in past messages. All this may sound like common sense, but it never hurts to be too careful. You don’t have to be a celebrity to be at risk of identity theft, but with common sense and a little paranoia, you won’t have to worry.
