Contrary to initial speculation of a systemic flaw in Apple’s iCloud, investigations revealed that the primary method used was sophisticated phishing. Perpetrators sent deceptive emails appearing to be from Apple or Google security, luring victims to fake login pages to harvest their usernames and passwords. Once in, hackers like Ryan Collins and George Garofano downloaded entire account backups, including private media.
"Celebgate" refers to the massive 2014 leak of private, intimate photos of hundreds of celebrities, primarily women, obtained through unauthorized access to their iCloud accounts. An essay on this topic typically examines the intersection of digital privacy, cybercrime, and the societal treatment of victims. Digital Privacy and Cybercrime