LexisNexis Probe May Be Tied to Hilton Cellphone Hack

LOS ANGELES — The ongoing investigation of hackers breaking into LexisNexis’ database may be tied to the theft of celebrity contact numbers and topless photos from the cellphone of Paris Hilton, an FBI spokesman said.

Investigators last week seized computers and other evidence from several individuals as part of a nationwide probe of the LexisNexis breach, in which the hackers gained access to 310,000 personal records.

The FBI said it is investigating whether the suspects used email pretending to contain child pornography to trick people into downloading software capable of capturing passwords needed to infiltrate LexisNexis' computers.

One of the hackers posed as a T-Mobile supervisor to get another employee to reveal a password into its network to get Hilton's cellphone data, FBI officials said. Later, conspiring hackers exploited a software flaw in the system.

Earlier this year, several websites published topless Hilton photos, private notes and phone numbers of her celebrity friends.

So far three people have been served search warrants in California, Minnesota and North Carolina, according to FBI spokesman Paul Bresson, who noted that his agency is working in concert with the Secret Service over the break-ins.

According to the FBI, the LexisNexis breach was set in motion by a blast of spam that included a message urging recipients to open an attached file to view child pornography. The attachments had nothing to do with child porn but the files contained a program that allowed the hackers to record anything a recipient typed on the surfer’s computer keyboard.

A police officer in Florida was among those who opened the infected email message, according to a report in the Washington Post. Not long after his computer was infected with the keystroke-capturing program, the officer logged on to his department's account at Accurint, a LexisNexis service provided by Florida-based subsidiary Seisint Inc., which sells access to consumer data. Other police officers' login information may have been similarly stolen.

The hackers apparently then created a series of sub-accounts using the police department's name and billing information, the Post said.

Over several days, the group looked up thousands of names in the database, including friends and celebrities. The law enforcement source said members of the group eventually began selling Social Security numbers and other sensitive consumer information to a ring of identity thieves in California.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More