A suspected Israeli hacker was arrested on charges of hacking into the computers of Madonna and a number of other well-known artists in order to steal and distribute unreleased songs, Israel Police reported Wednesday.
The months-long international investigation, conducted between the FBI and Lahav 433, the police’s special investigation unit, led investigators to a 39-year-old Tel Aviv resident.
The suspect allegedly hacked into the artists’ computers, stole unreleased tracks, and distributed the music over the Internet for money. Police searched the suspect’s home and seized a number of computers, accessories and media.
The suspect is being charged with computer trespassing, fraud and intellectual property offenses.
The incidents involving Madonna were first reported in December when the pop singer was forced to release her album Rebel Heart three months earlier than expected after Sony computers were hacked.
She called the breach a “form of terrorism” and later spun the leak as an “early Christmas present” for her fans.
