Online or in cloud systems, privacy can be an elusive concept, as photo hacking case shows

As the celebrity photo-hacking scandal has made clear, privacy isn't what it used to be.

Whether famous or seemingly anonymous, people from all walks of life put all sorts of things online or into cloud-based storage, from vital financial information to the occasional nude photo. Periodic cases of hacking fuel outrage, but there's no retreat from digital engagement or any imminent promise of guaranteed privacy.

The latest headlines involved nude photos of actress Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities which were accessed via hacking, then posted online. Apple, which created the iCloud and other content-sharing systems, says individual accounts of some celebrities were targeted and hacked.

Privacy experts say users of online and cloud technology need not be famous to be vulnerable. Many users believe the benefits outweigh the risks.