Ethical Hacking News
A 26-year-old Illinois man has pleaded guilty to hacking nearly 600 women's Snapchat accounts, stealing nude photos and selling them online. The defendant, Kyle Svara, used phishing tactics to obtain access codes from the victims' accounts, compromising over 570 of them without permission. He is facing several charges, including aggravated identity theft and wire fraud.
Kyle Svara hacked into nearly 600 women's Snapchat accounts using phishing tactics between May 2020 and February 2021. Svara sent text messages impersonating Snap representatives to harvest login information from over 570 victims. The defendant accessed at least 59 Snapchat accounts without permission, downloading compromising images. Svara worked with a former coach who was later sentenced to prison for cyberstalking and other crimes. He also independently hacked into the accounts of women in Plainfield, Illinois, and students at Colby College in Maine. The defendant faces several charges, including aggravated identity theft and wire fraud.
A recent guilty plea by a 26-year-old Illinois man, Kyle Svara, has shed light on the darker aspects of social media hacking. According to court documents, Svara used phishing tactics to obtain access codes from nearly 600 women's Snapchat accounts between May 2020 and February 2021. The accounts were compromised without permission, allowing Svara to download private photos.
Svara's modus operandi involved sending text messages impersonating Snap representatives, requesting access codes from potential victims. This tactic was effective in harvesting credentials from roughly 570 victims, who unknowingly provided their login information in response to the phishing attempts. The defendant then used this information to access at least 59 Snapchat accounts without permission, downloading compromising images.
The case highlights the vulnerability of social media platforms and the ease with which hackers can exploit them. Svara's actions demonstrate a clear disregard for individuals' privacy and online security, as he not only compromised the accounts but also traded stolen content with clients on various online platforms.
One notable aspect of the case is that Svara was hired by former Northeastern University track and field coach Steve Waithe to hack Snapchat accounts of students at Northeastern and members of the women's track and field and soccer teams. Waithe, who was sentenced in March 2024 to five years in prison for cyberstalking, cyber fraud, and sextortion, had initially offered Svara a paid job to compromise these accounts.
In addition to his work on behalf of Waithe, Svara also independently hacked into the accounts of women in Plainfield, Illinois, and students at Colby College in Maine. His actions demonstrate a brazen disregard for online boundaries and the consequences that follow such behavior.
The defendant's guilty plea comes with several charges, including aggravated identity theft (carrying a minimum sentence of two years), wire fraud (up to 20 years in prison), computer fraud (up to five years), and making false statements related to child pornography (maximum of eight years). Svara is scheduled for sentencing in federal court before U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy on May 18th.
As the case highlights, social media hacking is a growing concern that requires attention from individuals, organizations, and law enforcement agencies alike. It is essential to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect our online security. By understanding the tactics used by hackers like Svara and taking steps to secure our own accounts, we can prevent similar incidents from occurring.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of online safety and the need for continued vigilance in protecting ourselves against cyber threats. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial that we stay informed about the latest tactics used by hackers and take proactive measures to safeguard our digital lives.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/A-Guilty-Plea-The-Dark-Side-of-Social-Media-Hacking-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/man-pleads-guilty-to-hacking-nearly-600-womens-snapchat-accounts/
https://cybernews.com/cybercrime/illinois-man-hacked-snapchat-steal-nude-photos-court-guilty/
Published: Fri Feb 6 06:57:45 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
