Could your naked photos be hacked?

Celebrity websites complied when Scarlett Johansson's lawyer asked them to remove nude photos she'd taken of herself. They're copyright-protected,​ lawyer Marty Singer maintained, and "highly personal" at that.

Plus they were stolen -- hacked from Johansson's computer or smartphone. One of the nude-photo posters who agreed to the attorney's request said he actually felt bad for Johansson, who was obviously a victim. "Scarlett doesn't need to leak photos; she's pretty established. So this wasn't a press play," TheDirty.com's Nik Richie told E!

Johansson is just one of a number of recent celebrity victims of hackers who are prying into smartphones and email accounts. "We're told 50 celebs had compromising photos and videos stolen by one group, and one of the ringleaders has his fingerprints on every job," TMZ says. "Our sources say the hackers' primary motivation is the thrill and challenge of it all -- not the money."

• Bing:Celebrities who've been hacked

Meanwhile, the FBI is looking into this. Post continues after video.

How can you keep this from happening to your own personal photos, nude or clothed? (You probably don't have the money to hire a lawyer. And even though some websites took the Johansson photos down, both pictures are still readily available online.)

• Password-protect your phone (and your voice mail), and create a strong password, with lots of letters, numbers and symbols.
• From PBS: "Be sure not to open any SMS messages coming in from unknown numbers, which . . . (might) contain content that, when opened, can install malware and spyware onto your cell." Those can give a hacker access to your phone's contents.
• Likewise with emails and apps -- only access those from trusted sources.
• Keep your operating systems and apps up-to-date.
• Use a firewall and software that protects your mobile or computer from security threats.
• Beware of public Wi-Fi, which often is not secure.

Still, it's a dicey business. Hackers always seem to stay one step ahead of the good guys.

The ultimate way of protecting yourself from the shame of having your self-posed photos or other embarrassing moments exposed?

"I hate to point out the obvious, but not taking nude photos on your phone is your first line of defense. Remember Polaroids?" Beth Jones, a researcher at Internet security company Sophos, told ABCNews.com.

Molly Eichel at Philly.com opined:

We believe this is a total invasion of privacy, but the best way not to have naked pictures leaked for the millions of leering eyes on the Internet? Don't take them. And, frankly, if you must have nude photos, pay someone to adjust the lighting.

More on MSN Money:

• I can hack into your voice mail
• 9 ways to avoid cybercrime
• Protect your smartphone from ID thieves
• Cybercrime claims 1 million victims a day
• How free Wi-Fi can put you at risk
• 10 things to know about ID theft