Erin Andrews Peephole Video: Hackers Profit

How low can you stoop, really? ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was illegally videotaped through her hotel room peephole undressing, and now it has been plastered all over the Internet. Until now, Erin Andrews has had a sense of humor when it has come to the endless discussion of her on some websites and blogs. She has taken it all in stride, and has been a really good sport.

However, the line of privacy and decency was crossed (not to mention a crime took place) when someone taped Andrews undressing in her hotel room, illegally and unbeknownst to her of course. This is just the newest in a series of perverted peeping toms and voyeurs violating women. A lawyer for Erin Andrews had this to say:

While alone in the privacy of her hotel room, Erin Andrews was surreptitiously videotaped without her knowledge or consent. She was the victim of a crime and is taking action to protect herself and help ensure that others are not similarly violated in the future. Although the perpetrator or perpetrators of this criminal act have not yet been identified, when they are identified she intends to bring both civil and criminal charges against them and against anyone who has published the material. We request respect of Erin's privacy at this time, while she and her representatives are working with the authorities."

Well, it seems now hackers are inadvertently defending Erin Andrews' honor by chasing the net's hottest search. Even though most of them are doing it for their own nefarious reasons, hackers have cashed in on the popularity of the Erin Andrews search and have begun setting up bogus websites claiming to have a link to the Andrews peephole video. People searching for the video click on the link, and instead of seeing Erin Andrews undressing in her hotel room, a virus is released into their system.

While condemning internet hacking is this writer's official stance, I will make an exception this time. If you are that morally bankrupt , to be searching for a video of an ESPN reporter (or anyone!) undressing in her hotel room, having been videotaped without her knowledge, a virus sounds like appropriate 'justice' to me. Imagine the violation one feels when they click on a link and it destroys their hard-drive, or when the realization hits that a hacker was just granted access to your personal information. Gee, almost as violating as perhaps....being secretly videotaped while undressing?

The best part, is explaining to your girlfriend or wife (or mom, God forbid, if you are a teenager!)why the computer is acting funny, grasping for excuses as to why there is a virus running on your computer to avoid admitting you are a pervert who enjoys further violating an innocent women over the internet.

Just because Erin Andrews is a public figure who happens to be a very attractive woman, gives no one the right to violate her privacy and victimize her. My heart goes out to her and her family.

sources: USA Today, http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/07/erin-andrews-tape-being-used-to-spread-computer-virus.html, http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/sports_media/