Hackers leak 'Survivor' finalists' names

Two suspects, minor who accessed email accounts used by reality show's producers, participants arrested. Suspects admit to charges, say committed similar offenses against contestants from previous seasons

Reuters | Published: 09.02.10, 07:39

Israel Police Computer Crimes Division - Lahav 433 is investigating a case in which hackers remotely accessed computers owned by producers and participants of the Israeli version of “Survivor,” the reality television show, Calcalist reported Wednesday.

According to suspicions, two suspects and a minor tried to access inside information before episodes were broadcast, thus granting advertisers a marketing and advertising advantage.

Based on evidence gathered during the course of the investigation, spoilers and details from episodes that had not yet been broadcast, including the names of the four finalists and tidbits from the contracts contestants signed, were posted on a blog called “French Nut” on the Tapuz portal, as well as other sites, one month before the season finale aired.

According to suspicions, the data was attained by accessing Facebook and email accounts belonging to the show's producers and participants, and taking details and documents from the email accounts.

One of the suspects allegedly created a web page that appeared to be the Facebook login page, through which he accessed others' accounts. The investigation is being overseen by Commander Yaron Ben Zvi, from the Computer Crimes Division.

As a result of the investigation, which is ongoing, suspects were arrested and admitted to the suspicions against them, and to similar crimes carried out against "Survivor" contestants from previous seasons. They also admitted to hacking computers belonging to dozens of additional celebrities.

Calcalist has also learned that "Survivor" producers requested that contestants on the upcoming season deactivate their accounts on Facebook, or any other online social network, to prevent details on the upcoming season from being leaked.