Hollywood Hacker who stole Nude Photo of Scarlett Johansson Arrested by FBI

Christopher Chaney, 35, was arrested in Jacksonville, Florida as a result of an 11-month FBI investigation into hacking of over 50 Hollywood celebrities, including Christina Aguilera, Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johansson, whose naked pictures appeared online last month.

Mr Chaney is expected to be transferred to Los Angeles to face trial. He could potentially face up to 121 years in prison if convicted on all 26 indictments, including accessing and damaging computers, wiretapping and identity theft.

Celebrity information is highly marketable," said Steven Martinez, head of the FBI's LA office, after what was dubbed "Operation Hackerazzi".

While the case against Mr Chaney involves celebrities who were targeted because of their fame, this case reminds us that we are all potential victims of computer hackers," added US Attorney Andre Birotte Jr.

A recently circulated nude photo of Johannsson is part of the investigation, he said.

Chaney allegedly "also took financial information, movie scripts and conversations that the celebrities believed to be private," Birotte told reporters.

Chaney allegedly was able to access passwords by monitoring social media and other online sites that the celebrities used, said Steven Martinez, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office.