Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Former Yahoo! Employee Confesses To Hacking Into 'About 6,000' User Accounts To Find Sexual Images And Videos

Online privacy is one of the most relevant and controversial issues brought about by the internet age.

Hackers invading our online accounts for information is a source of constant worry to many people, and for good reason!


Reyes Daniel Ruiz was an employee at Yahoo! until he was fired for breaking into "about 6,000" private accounts in search of sexual images of the owners.

Ruiz was charged with one count of "computer intrusion" and one count of "interception of a wire communication."

After receiving a deal, he plead guilty to the count of computer intrusion and now faces up to 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and "restitution to the victims."

Ruiz was released from his position after an FBI investigation noticed "suspicious activity" linking back to him.

Not only did the former software engineer break into Yahoo! accounts using his backend tools, he then took the passwords he was able to attain to log onto users' separate Gmail, iCloud, and Dropbox accounts (if people used the same password for each).

The materials Ruiz stole were kept on a home computer.

When he thought the FBI was closing in on him, he destroyed it.

Big tech companies and the access their employees have to their client's private information has been a topic of much heated discussion as of late.

Google, Apple, Android and Amazon all recently revised their standards and practices regarding employee-review of snippets recorded by home assistants like Alexa.

Previously, it was revealed employees occasionally listen in on Alexa owners to help improve the system's speech functions, but also that these employees would comment on and even make fun of what they heard.

We must all be very careful about what we post online.

Even when individuals like Ruiz aren't involved, giant hacks like the one that recently exposed all 3 billion Yahoo! accounts can strike at any moment.

Learn how to protect yourself with Cyber Security: Comprehensive Beginners Guide to Learn the Basics and Effective Methods of Cyber Security, available here.

*****

Listen to the first season of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!' where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.

Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.

More from Trending

Jake Tapper; Markwayne Mullin
CNN

Jake Tapper Expertly Rips MAGA Rep's Defense Of Pete Hegseth's 'Drinking Problem'

CNN reporter Jake Tapper expertly shut down GOP Oklahoma Representative Markwayne Mullin's defense of Pete Hegseth's qualifications as a potential nominee for Secretary of Defense.

Hegseth, a former Fox and Friends weekend co-host, was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to join his cabinet as U.S. Secretary of Defense despite his lack of experience in global defense.

Keep ReadingShow less
2025 calendar with tweet overlayed reading: "We are so doomed"
Pakin Songmor/GettyImages; @Haywhyforyou/X

People Just Noticed An Ominous Detail About The 2025 Calendar—And Oh Dear

Christmas is already around the corner. Can you believe it?

This time each year, many of us are SMH-ing over the fact that another year has sped by as the holidays following Halloween hit us in rapid succession.

Keep ReadingShow less
Anok Yai; Alex Consani
Dave Benett/Getty Images; Dave Benett/Getty Images

Supermodel Sparks Debate With Reaction To Losing 'Model Of The Year' Award To Trans Model

Model Anok Yai sparked quite the debate on social media after she said she was "exhausted" and proceeded to call out the British Fashion Council after they awarded the 2024 Model of the Year award to trans model Alex Consani.

Consani, the first out trans model to ever win Model of the Year, expressed her excitement on Instagram, sharing celebratory photos and videos accompanied by the captions:

Keep ReadingShow less
Jonathan Bennett; Jonathan Bennett as Aaron Samuels in 'Mean Girls'
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Paramount Pictures

Jonathan Bennett Reveals He Wasn't First Choice For 'Mean Girls' Role With Wild Story

Most of us have applied for at least one dream job, only for it to be offered to someone else. But sometimes the story doesn't end with the job offer; in fact, we might get another chance at that job or even something better.

And according to Veronica Mars actor Jonathan Bennett, this concept can be applied to acting gigs, as well.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Share Things Their Partner Told Them That Changed The Way They Saw Them

Actions may speak louder than words, but that is not to say that words do not carry power.

In a single moment, how we feel about someone can totally change because of something surprising they have said.

Keep ReadingShow less