In a shocking development, former Michigan football assistant coach Matt Weiss has been indicted for allegedly hacking into the accounts of thousands of college athletes in search of private, intimate photos and videos. According to federal prosecutors, Weiss accessed databases from over 100 universities between 2015 and 2023, stealing personal and medical data from more than 150,000 athletes. The indictment details how Weiss "cracked the encryption protecting the passwords" and specifically targeted female athletes, keeping notes on their images and even returning years later to search for more. Previously fired by Michigan in 2023 after refusing to cooperate with an investigation, Weiss now faces 14 counts of computer hacking and 10 counts of identity theft. Prosecutors have vowed to pursue the case aggressively, with acting U.S. attorney Julie Beck stating, "Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens."

Key Points:

• Matt Weiss, ex-Michigan assistant coach, has been indicted on federal charges of unauthorized computer access and identity theft.
• From 2015 to 2023, Weiss allegedly hacked into databases of over 100 universities, stealing personal and medical data from more than 150,000 athletes.
• He reportedly gained access to social media, email, and cloud accounts of more than 2,000 athletes, focusing on female college athletes.
• Weiss allegedly "researched and targeted these women based on their school affiliation, athletic history, and physical characteristics."
• He was fired by Michigan in 2023 after refusing to cooperate with an internal investigation following a police search of his home.
• Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck pledged to prosecute the case aggressively, emphasizing the importance of protecting private accounts.
• Weiss’ initial court appearance has not yet been scheduled.

This case raises serious concerns about online security and athlete privacy—what happens next could set a precedent for digital threats in collegiate athletics.
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