The FBI says hackers are targeting your most private photos, not just your passwords

The FBI has warned that cybercriminals are targeting personal accounts to steal intimate photos and videos. These criminals aim to post the material online, sell it through illicit marketplaces, or continue exploiting the victim after the account is compromised. The attacks target both adults and minors, and criminals may use information exposed in previous breaches to guess passwords or PINs.

Other methods include phishing pages and fake support messages that trick people into giving away account access. The FBI's warning comes alongside an initiative aimed at student-athletes, as their public profiles can provide attackers with more personal information and perceived leverage.

Attackers can use details already available online to try passwords or PINs linked to the information they've collected. Social engineering can be as simple as a seemingly legitimate support message asking for a verification or password-reset code. Falling for such a message could allow the attacker to gain control. Phishing pages can also achieve the same result.

The FBI recommends using unique passwords and PINs, multi-factor authentication, and credentials that do not rely on personal details easily discovered by others. Suspicious support messages should be handled with caution and opened through the official app or website rather than following links from texts or emails. If a verification code appears unexpectedly, it should not be provided to anyone claiming to represent the platform.

For sensitive material, the FBI suggests avoiding storage on social media or other internet-accessible services. If targeted, individuals should preserve relevant messages and images, cease communication with the offender, and report the incident through IC3.gov. The FBI also advises against paying attackers or sending additional material in hopes of preventing distribution, as once intimate content is released online, regaining control becomes extremely difficult.

Strong account security is essential, even if it means a slight inconvenience. Google has recently added Lyria 3.5, its most advanced music generation model, to the Gemini app, making it easier for users to generate polished songs, instrumentals, and soundtracks from simple text prompts or even photos.