Sony Hack: Five years later key players still doubt that North Korea was behind leak
THR Cover: Sony hack, five years later - what really happened? https://t.co/slIqSLQxDM pic.twitter.com/2MrkmjnE20
- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 25, 2019
On November 24th, 2014, a skeleton appeared on Sony employers computers with the message: “We've obtained all your internal data including your secret”. This was followed by 22 days of slow drip emails meant to expose and embarrass top-level Sony executives.
A 25-day investigation by the FBI concluded that North Korea was behind the hack, angry about the portrayal of their leader in the Seth Rogan and James Franco comedy “The Interview”.
Many still doubt that North Korea was behind the hack, including Seth Rogan. In the article, he expresses skepticism, especially given he was never personally targeted by the leak. He hired a cyber risk firm that concluded that none of his personal devices had been comprised or had even attempted to be.
Some believe Russia was involved.
The rollout of the mails suggest that the hacker understood showbiz players and practices very well. They clearly knew what information would damage reputations. They also knew which journalists to approach with the leaked emails and planned the rollout with the threats to movie theaters.
Some believe that a disgruntled former employee was behind the attacks in order to manipulate the stock. Compares it to the terrorist attack against the German football club Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
The hack seemed designed to humiliate Sony - and particularly Amy Pascal, who was in the midst of a contract renewal.
Sony refuse to say how much the hack cost them financially but their earnings report list $35m for “investigation and remediation”
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