Scarlett Johansson's hacker sentenced

Agencies | Updated: 2012-12-18 14:21

A Florida man accused of hacking into the email accounts of more than 50 celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera and Mila Kunis, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Christopher Chaney, 35, pleaded guilty to nine felony counts, including wiretapping and unauthorised access to a computer and was given the decade long sentence by US District Judge S. James Otero in Los Angeles on Monday (17.12.12).

Mr. Chaney previously explained how he clicked on the 'forgot password' feature and then correctly answered the stars' security questions to gain access to their email accounts. He then uploaded a bug which forwarded all incoming mail to him.

As a result, the clerical worker managed to get hold of nude photographs Scarlett took for then-husband Ryan Reynolds, as well as risqué snaps taken by Mila and Christina - all of which were leaked online.

He was finally caught after an 11-month FBI investigation dubbed "Operation Hackerazzi".

Prosecuting attorney Andre Birotte Jr previously said the guilty pleas, "shine a bright light on the dark underworld of computer hacking".

He said: "This case demonstrates that everyone, even public figures, should take precautions to shield their personal information from the hackers that inhabit that dark underworld."

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