Man pleads guilty to Snapchat hacking targeting Northeastern students

"Between 2020 and 2021, Svara would advertise on internet forums, including Reddit, that he could "get into girls snap accounts" for others and provide content "for you or trade," prosecutors said. Using personal information, he would try to gain access to women's Snapchat accounts before posing as a representative of Snap Inc. to obtain security codes sent to the women. He texted more than 4,500 women for the codes, which approximately 570 women provided, prosecutors said."

"Kyle Svara, 27, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and false statements related to child pornography, the U.S. Attorney's office said. When interviewed, Svara denied hacking Snapchats and "falsely stated that he had no interest in child pornography and had never actively sought out or accessed child sexual abuse material," prosecutors said. "Contrary to these statements, the defendant collected, distributed and solicited CSAM.""

Kyle Svara used personal information and social-engineering tactics between 2020 and 2021 to gain access to Snapchat accounts he advertised he could break into on internet forums, including Reddit. He posed as a Snap Inc. representative to obtain security codes, texting more than 4,500 women; about 570 provided codes. He accessed at least 59 accounts and downloaded nude or semi-nude images, which he sold or traded. He collected and distributed child sexual abuse material while denying interest in such material during an interview. Svara pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges including aggravated identity theft, wire and computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and false statements related to child pornography. Former Northeastern coach Steve Waithe was among his clients and pleaded guilty in 2023.

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