Hackers have sent a warning out to the media addressing HBO, after hitting the broadcaster with a cyber attack that is believed to be seven times larger than a similar attack staged against Sony in 2014.
It has been reported that 1.5 terabytes of data has been stolen from HBO, with thousands of internal business documents having been compromised along with personal information belonging to its employees, including online accounts and personal health services. It is believed that the hackers have also obtained video footage and audio material from the company, with the extent of the hack leading to comparisons being amde with the devastating Sony hack three years ago, which saw the company’s dirty laundry being aired in public following several high-profile leaks.
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The hack has seen data pertaining to the Game of Thrones series being compromised, leading to concerns that scripts of the new season of the show are in danger of being leaked online. However, these latest revelations point towards the much more damaging implications the hack could have on HBO in general, putting both the security of the company and its employees at risk.
Now the hackers have issued a warning to HBO through the press, sending a message to several outlets claiming “HBO is falling.” The statement (via Vanity Fair) can be read below:
“Hi to all mankind. The greatest leak of cyber space era is happening. What’s its name? Oh I forget to tell. Its HBO and Game of Thrones……!!!!!! You are lucky to be the first pioneers to witness and download the leak. Enjoy it & spread the words. Whoever spreads well, we will have an interview with him . . . HBO is falling.”
There’s no word yet on what the hackers plan to do with the compromised data, though HBO are working with the FBI in order to uncover the cyber criminals’ identities. After news of the attacks began circulating, HBO issued a statement: “HBO recently experienced a cyber incident, which resulted in the compromise of proprietary information,” the broadcaster said. “We immediately began investigating the incident and are working with law enforcement and outside cyber-security firms. Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold.”
The broadcaster has reportedly sent out a Digital Millennium Copyright Act take-down notice to Google in order to remove links to stolen material from the search engine, with CEO Richard Plepler telling staff that he does not believe the company’s email service has been compromised by the hackers.
