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The NYT reports that in the aftermath of the crippling online attack against Sony last month, internal documents have been leaked containing the pre-bonus annual salaries of Sony's senior executives. A spreadsheet containing the salaries of more than 6,000 Sony Pictures employees has been posted on Pastebin, the anonymous Internet posting site, that includes the company’s top executives including 17 senior executives who earn more than $1 million a year sending "a ripple of dread across Hollywood to Washington". Tom Kellermann says that unlike stealth attacks from China and Russia, Sony’s hackers not only aimed to steal data, but also to send a clear message. “This was like a home invasion where after taking the family jewels the hackers set the house ablaze."
Although large attacks on companies are increasingly common, this one has played out like one of Sony’s own thrillers, with macabre images on computer screens of studio executives’ severed heads. Although the studio is exploring multiple explanations, one theory involves North Korea and that the attack could be retribution from North Korea for a coming Sony comedy about an assassination attempt on that country’s leader, Kim Jong-un. Sony plans to release “The Interview,” an R-rated comedy about two American journalists who are recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency to kill Mr. Kim. A spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry called the film — apparently after seeing a trailer — “the most undisguised terrorism and a war action" adding that the film would invite “a strong and merciless countermeasure.” The destructive attack at Sony mirrors similar attacks last year on computers inside South Korea that paralyzed the computer networks at three major South Korean banks and two of the country’s largest broadcasters. Those attacks were traced back to computer addresses inside China, though many suspected that hackers inside China were working on behalf of North Korea, retaliating against South Korea for conducting military exercises with the United States, and for supporting recent American-led sanctions against the north. “In 2015 hackers will destroy systems not just for activism, but also for counter-incident response,” concludes Kellermann. Sony is moving ahead with the release of the comedy regardless.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Wednesday December 03 2014, @05:39PM
I like the way that Sony are completely mystified about who would possibly have a motive for an attack like this, and conclude that it could only be North Korea Hating their Freedumz. Like North Korea have nothing better to do with their very limited resources at the moment.[1]
The last dozen or so Sony hacks over the last few years weren't enough of a clue? Here Sony, let me spell it out for you. Sony is a target for hackers because:
A: Sony has pissed off various tech-literate people with the rootkit debacle, the whole withdrawing-Linux-from-Playstation thing and a bunch of other examples of bad behaviour I can't be bothered to list.
B: Sony is a big, rich, famous, high-profile target.
C: Judging by the amount of hacks, Sony's security is shit. Nothing lubricates a hacker's[2] keyboard more than a nice juicy target, with lots of security holes and plenty of interesting info within waiting to be unearthed.
D: I don't need a D.
E: This has nothing to do with North Korea. Seriously.
[1] Admittedly, sane allocation of resources isn't something NK are traditionally associated with, but my point stands. Probably.
[2] Don't start preaching to me about hackers vs crackers. The battle for that particularly terminology has been fought and lost. Deal with it.
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 03 2014, @06:35PM
> North Korea? Get over yourselves.
Sony can't unhack themselves. But they can make the best of the situation. If they can make the story about North Korea retaliating over this film it will be marketing gold. Sony can cut back on their promotional budget for the movie because the news will do it all for free. See the movie that made North Korea so butthurt that they retaliated with the single largest hack attack evah!
(Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Wednesday December 03 2014, @08:07PM
Personally, I'm guessing that once again they won't spend the money on security.
(Score: 2) by WillR on Wednesday December 03 2014, @08:52PM
We buy everyone a new laptop and an iPad, call it a "security upgrade", and charge it all to the movie budget because "the North Koreans did it!". The studio suits get new toys, and the actors, artists, and production staff that actually make the movies get fucked to pay for them.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Wednesday December 03 2014, @09:42PM
I won't. Not even in a "stupid rental movies weekend".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday December 03 2014, @11:31PM
I'll watch it. I think the premise is great and I like stoner rogan.
But I will pirate the bluray.
(Score: 2) by HiThere on Thursday December 04 2014, @07:01PM
The idea that North Korea did it is silly, because North Korea would never open information, and is unlikely to do anything else worthwhile.
So it is probably someone else that they've pissed off. Unfortunately since Sony when out of the electronics business they've consistently tried to maximize the number of people they've annoyed.
Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.