It happens like clockwork. You're scrolling through X (formerly Twitter) or some random forum, and suddenly a headline pops up about Selena Gomez leaked pics. It’s usually clickbait. Sometimes it’s a blurry thumbnail. Most of the time, it’s a straight-up scam designed to get you to click a malicious link. But for Selena, the battle over her digital privacy isn't just a hypothetical "internet safety" lesson—it’s been a recurring, documented nightmare that has shaped how she interacts with the world.
The 2017 Instagram hack and the Bieber photos
Back in August 2017, Selena’s Instagram account—which was then the most-followed on the planet—went dark. Before it was pulled down, hackers posted several nude photos of her ex-boyfriend, Justin Bieber. It was messy. The images weren't even of her, but the breach proved that even someone with a massive security team could be vulnerable to a simple API exploit.
👉 See also: Priscila Van der Broocke: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Story
Instagram eventually admitted that a bug in their system allowed hackers to scrape contact info like email addresses and phone numbers. For a celebrity, that’s the "keys to the kingdom." Once a hacker has your email, they aren't just looking for photos; they’re looking for your life.
The Susan Atrach case: A lesson in "secret questions"
Most people think "hacking" is some complex Matrix-style coding. Honestly? Usually, it's just someone being creepy and persistent.
In 2018, a woman named Susan Atrach was charged with 11 felony counts for allegedly hacking Selena’s email accounts. How did she do it? She didn't use a supercomputer. She reportedly just guessed the answers to Selena’s "secret questions" using publicly available information. Think about that for a second. If a stranger can find out your first pet's name or your mother’s maiden name by Googling you, your "security" is basically a screen door without a lock.
Atrach allegedly accessed Selena’s iCloud and Yahoo accounts multiple times between 2015 and 2016. She didn't just look; she reportedly shared the private media she found. This wasn't some "oops" moment. It was a calculated invasion of privacy that could have landed the perpetrator in prison for nearly a decade.
The 2026 AI deepfake surge
Fast forward to right now, January 2026. The game has changed. We aren't just dealing with stolen phone photos anymore. We're dealing with AI-generated deepfakes.
Earlier this month, rumors started swirling again about "new" Selena Gomez leaked pics. However, cybersecurity experts and Selena’s own team have been quick to point out that these aren't real photos. They are sophisticated AI fabrications. It’s a trend that has hit everyone from Taylor Swift to local high school students.
These images are created using "diffusion models" that can take any face and paste it onto any body with terrifying accuracy. It’s basically digital identity theft, and it’s become a massive legal headache. In early 2026, Gomez’s legal team reportedly began aggressive "cease and desist" campaigns against platforms hosting these AI-generated "leaks."
Why this keeps happening to her
Selena is a target for two main reasons:
- Unrivaled Reach: She has over 400 million followers on Instagram. To a hacker or a click-hungry site, she is the ultimate "hit" for traffic.
- The "Billionaire" Factor: With the success of Rare Beauty, Selena isn't just a pop star anymore. She’s a business mogul. That makes her a target for financial espionage, not just tabloid gossip.
She’s been very vocal about how this affects her mental health. She’s deleted Instagram from her phone dozens of times. She’s handed her passwords to her assistant because looking at the comments—and the "leaks"—made her feel "violated" and "depressed." You've probably seen her talk about this on the Today Show or in her documentary; she’s done with the "dangerous" nature of social media.
📖 Related: Gwen Stefani Gushes Over Husband Blake Shelton: The Truth Behind Those Divorce Rumors
The legal reality of "leaked" content
Let's get real about the law for a second. If you share or even just look for these images, you're often participating in a crime.
- Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII): Most states now have "revenge porn" laws that criminalize the distribution of private, explicit photos without consent.
- The Right of Publicity: Selena has famously sued companies—like the makers of the mobile game Clothes Forever—for using her likeness without permission. She won a massive settlement there because her face is her brand.
How to protect your own digital footprint
If it can happen to a woman who has more money than most small countries, it can definitely happen to you. You don't need a million followers to be a victim of a data breach.
- Kill the "Secret Questions": Don't use your real dog's name. Use a random string of words that has nothing to do with your life.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): If you don't have 2FA turned on for your email and iCloud, you're basically leaving your front door wide open. Use an authenticator app, not just SMS codes.
- Audit Your App Permissions: Selena’s 2017 hack happened because of an Instagram API bug. Check which random third-party apps have access to your accounts and revoke them.
- Assume Nothing is Private: This sounds cynical, but it’s the truth in 2026. If it’s on a cloud, it’s potentially accessible.
The "Selena Gomez leaked pics" saga is a reminder that privacy is a disappearing commodity. Whether it's a hacker in a basement or an AI bot in a server farm, the goal is always the same: to take something personal and turn it into a commodity. The best way to support your favorite artists—and yourself—is to stop the cycle of clicking and start focusing on digital hygiene.
Stop searching for the "leaks." Start checking your own privacy settings.