14 DAY TRIAL // The Twitter accounts of celebrities are hijacked by hackers all the time. However, in most cases, the cybercriminals abuse the fact that their targets have a large number of followers to spread malicious links, lure users to miracle diet websites, or simply to make fun of their victim.
Several gossip publications wrote on Wednesday that the Twitter account of Australian actor Russell Crowe was hacked and that the hacker posted an adult picture of a woman’s crotch.
“Hey, I don't know what that was. Just having a chat with when the phone went ballistic. Sorry, gone,” the actor tweeted after deleting the picture.
However, as experts highlight, he hasn’t mentioned anything about being hacked, or a hacker, as other celebrities who fall victim to cybercriminals have done. The hacker was placed at “the scene of the crime” by the media.
“My money says that it wasn’t a hacker who broke into Russell Crowe’s Twitter account. I don’t think he’s had to change his password, or take a longer look at his security following this incident,” security expert Graham Cluley noted.
“I believe that all he’s probably learnt is to be a little more careful with his fumbling fingers when he has an audience of one million fans watching.”
Update. Russell Crowe's management told news.com.au that the account was hacked. While this might be true, it also wouldn't be the first time when a celebrity's representatives bend the truth.