Emma Watson has become the latest target of hackers who are threatening to publish a series of intimate pictures of her in a matter of days.

It is thought the online thieves were retaliating after she delivered a rousing speech in New York as part of her role as UN Women Goodwill ambassador over the weekend.

During her address, used as a platform to launch gender equality initiative ‘HeForShe’, she described her own process of sexualisation as a teen, her desire for women to be treated – and paid – equally to men, and for men to take a stand and support the women in their lives.

She has also spoken out against the publication of the stolen photos after the first naked images of Jennifer Lawrence were leaked.

“Even worse than seeing women's privacy violated on social media is reading the accompanying comments that show such a lack of empathy,” she tweeted.

At the moment, the countdown does not specify when the photographs, purportedly of Watson, will be published, although the site has reportedly been created by members of internet forum 4Chan. It features an image of Watson wiping a tear from her eye, as a digital timer counts down the seconds.

“Never forget, the biggest to come thus far” is written at the bottom of the screen.

Meanwhile, US site Gawker posted a series of since-deleted comments from forum users that perhaps appears to indicate why they have timed her photo leak now.

“She makes stupid feminist speeches at UN, and now her nudes will be online,” one comment allegedly read, adding that the images are set to appear in under five days.

A spokesperson for Emma Watson declined to comment.

The new report comes amid a second wave of naked images, thought to depict female stars including Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, emerged online.

The actresses Vanessa Hudgens and Aubrey Plaza, designer and former child star Mary-Kate Olsen, and US soccer player Hope Solo are reportedly among those apparently vicitimised.

There were also new nude pictures purportedly of Jennifer Lawrence.

Earlier this month, over 100 household names were the target of online thieves, who stole scores of naked photographs and intimate videos and posted them on the website 4Chan.

Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes Show all 20 1 /20 Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I was at the Oscars, waiting to hear if my name was called, and I kept thinking, cakewalk, cakewalk, cakewalk.I thought, 'Why is 'cakewalk' stuck in my head?'" - On why she fell at the Oscars 2013 Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes "I finally get to make out with Christian Bale and he's a really fat guy. He's Fatman, not Batman." - American Hustle director David O Russell lets slip J-Law's on-set words to US Magazine Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes "I can’t even... It’s like past mad, it’s this weird other emotion … I feel like my heart just fell out." - To presenter Shaun Robinson after she spoiled the Homeland Season 3 finale Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “He was at a party, and I turned into a perverted guy. I was like following him into rooms and staring at his ass…He asked me if I was on mushrooms and I said, ‘No. I’m dead sober. This is just me.’” - on stalking John Stamos at a party Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes "I think any time a girl has to show her thighs, it's never going to be her favorite look. I love the dress...if someone else wore it." - To Good Morning America Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I’m a horrible dancer! I’m like a dad at prom. I look like Gumby getting electrocuted.” - On whether you'll see her twerking any time soon Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I just went to the doctor today, I got a chest X-ray of my lungs and discovered that my breasts are uneven.” - Jimmy Kimmel Live PA Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I wrap myself up to look like Lord Voldemort so that they can’t see anything because the thought of giving them a picture that will make them money absolutely infuriates me.” - Entertainment Weekly Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “If I don’t have anything to do all day, I might not even put my pants on.” - Glamour Magazine Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I think people are fascinated with breasts that bounce. They are so used to seeing [fake ones]. People are confused [that mine bounce]! My breasts have a life of their own.” - The Sun Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “You guys are just standing up because you feel bad that I fell and that’s really embarrassing, but thank you.” - 2013 Oscars acceptance speech Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I really would not call myself a fashion icon. I would call myself somebody who gets dressed by professionals. [It's like], 'Dance, monkey, dance' right on the red carpet.' I would call me more of a monkey.” - To E! Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “If anybody even tries to whisper the word 'diet,' I'm like, 'You can go f– yourself.” - To Harper's Bizarre Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes "I was surprised at how little camel toe problem there was. I was expecting a lot more." - To E! on her Hunger Games jumpsuit Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes "If I were just your average 23-year-old girl and I called the police to say that there were strange men sleeping on my lawn and following me to Starbucks, they would leap into action." - To Vogue on the paparazzi Getty Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I’m the fastest pee-er ever. I’m famous for it.” - Rolling Stone Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I can see the McDonalds right there. Wait, hold on, I didn’t say fries! I’m seeing you talk and all I’m seeing is me being pissed I didn’t get fries. And you have to remind them about ketchup because they never include ketchup, you have to ask for it. Cheapskates.” - Being interviewed on the Oscars red carpet Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “I want to play a character I’ve never been before-a crazy serial killer like Charlize Theron in Monster. I’d love to have to shave my head.” Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “This isn’t like an auction, right? You guys aren’t going to take it away?” - Backstage at the Oscars Getty Images Jennifer Lawrence's best quotes “This isn’t like an auction, right? You guys aren’t going to take it away?” - Backstage at the Oscars Reuters

Several of the images – in particular, two of Hunger Games star Lawrence – quickly circulated on Twitter.

The FBI and Apple are both conducting investigations into the apparent widespread invasion of personal accounts thought to be connected to the iCloud service.

A spokesperson for Lawrence said at the time: "This is a flagrant violation of privacy. The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence."

Justice and Grande both said that the pictures were fake, although Lawrence’s spokesperson verified their authenticity.

Representatives for Upton said they were "looking into" the authenticity of the intimate images.