T-Mobile USA Inc. is investigating what appear to be pictures, phone numbers and other information taken from socialite Paris Hilton’s phone and posted on the Internet.
“T-Mobile’s computer forensics and security team is actively investigating to determine how Ms. Hilton’s information was obtained,” the carrier wrote in a statement. “This includes the possibility that someone had access to one of Ms. Hilton’s devices and/or knew her account password.
“Given the sensitivity of the situation, and to protect our customers’ information, we are not able to provide specific details of the investigation at this point.”
It’s unclear whether the incident is related to the recent disclosure that a computer hacker broke into T-Mobile’s computer systems in 2003. Nicholas Jacobsen last week pleaded guilty to gaining unauthorized access to T-Mobile’s systems. According to reports, Jacobsen was also able to access information stored in T-Mobile’s Sidekick devices. The carrier’s Sidekick works under a client/server architecture, under which information in the device can be accessed through the carrier’s network. Hilton uses a Sidekick, according to reports.
Internet sites have been buzzing about the apparent leak of Hilton’s information. The pictures appear to have been taken with Hilton’s Sidekick, and celebrities including Eminem and others are listed among the leaked phone numbers.
