Michigan assistant coach Matt Weiss accused of unlawful access to athletes' digital accounts for explicit images
Rewritten Article:
Hey there! Let's talk about the recent charges against Matt Weiss, a former NFL and University of Michigan assistant football coach.
It's stated in a federal court indictment that Weiss, who worked for the Baltimore Ravens before joining the University of Michigan in 2021, allegedly hacked into thousands of college athletes' accounts, seeking intimate photos and videos. He's facing 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of identity theft.
The indictment reveals that from 2015 to 2023, Weiss accessed databases of over 100 colleges and universities maintained by a third-party vendor. He then gained access to the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 athletes, primarily targeting female athletes, according to the indictment.
His alleged motive? To obtain private photographs and videos meant for intimate partners. You gotta admit, that's some serious stalking and invading privacy.
Weiss, who worked under coach John Harbaugh at the Ravens, later moved to Michigan to work for Harbaugh's brother, Jim Harbaugh. However, Mi's player's private data was not safe under his watch. He was fired from Michigan in 2023 after failing to cooperate with the school's investigation of his computer access.
His attorney, Doug Mullkoff, could not be reached for comment when this article was published.
It's been known for two years that Weiss was under scrutiny. His home was searched by police in January 2023, shortly before his sacking. Back then, he claimed he was cooperating and was looking "forward to the matter being resolved."
The case raises concerns about cybersecurity and the protection of sensitive data, particularly in educational institutions and sports organizations. It also highlights questions about accountability among institutions and third-party service providers involved in handling sensitive data. Weiss' initial court appearance on the charges is yet to be determined.
This case underscores the need for robust security measures to protect personal data and maintain privacy, especially in settings like colleges and universities. Be careful out there!
- Despite working for the NFL and University of Michigan, Matt Weiss allegedly maintained unauthorized access to thousands of college athletes' accounts, characteristic of a stalking behavior that involved seeking intimate photos and videos.
- Notably, Weiss' alleged activities occurred from 2015 to 2023, during which he accessed databases of over 100 colleges and universities, primarily targeting female athletes, and gained access to their social media, email, and cloud storage accounts.
- The NFL, university Sports organizations, and educational institutions should reconsider their practices to ensure the safety of private data and maintain privacy, light of the Weiss case and the questions raised about accountability among institutions and third-party service providers.
