“We’ve got great damage by Sony Pictures.
The compensation for it, monetary compensation we want.
Pay the damage, or Sony Pictures will be bombarded as a whole.
You know us very well. We never wait long.
You’d better behave wisely.
From God’sApstls” (Weise, 2014)
The correspondence since the first email appear like something taken from twitter using #GOP (Guardians of Peace). It is not yet known why they have been signed differently. If the extortion hit didn’t come from one of the usual suspects, the plot of revenge may have.
In the case of the Sony hacking, the usual suspects are nation states, or disgruntled employees. Many are pointing fingers at North Korea, since in June they criticized an upcoming film, “The Interview” as an “act of war.” (Meg James, 2014) Also in June, North Korea threatened a "decisive and merciless countermeasure," (Meg James, 2014) if the US Government didn’t stop the release of the film. It is obvious how serious the US Government and Sony view threats from North Korea, as the film is set for release on Christmas day.
The FBI is not convinced the attack came from North Korea. Disgruntled employees are also suspect, partly arising from numerous layoffs within the company in 2013. What is more suspect than everything else is the way Sony Productions left themselves so vulnerable that such an attack could take place. Those affected by the situation are likely asking how Sony wasn’t better prepared for such an event.
The hit them where it hurts attitude is the only point that is clear behind the Sony cyber attacks. News of the hacking has turned from being about the whom or the why behind the attacks to a more tabloid view of look what the criminals uncovered. News articles from “The Guardian” or even “Bloomberg” read like something from the Enquire as they provide information leaked in embarrassing emails about big Hollywood names.
Sony appears crippled, telling a story through bits and pieces of random information. This developing story is strewn together to lead authorities to look for an anonymous criminal. In the end, Sony productions might just disappear at the same time they begin to walk strait.
Works Cited
Meg James, D. M. (2014, 12 09). Sony Pictures execs debated risk of 'The Interview' before cyberattack. Retrieved 12 10, 2014, from Los Angeles TImes: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sony-hack-north-korea-the-interview-20141210-story.html
Weise, E. (2014, 12 09). Sony hack: Disinformation, extortion or other? Retrieved 12 10, 2014, from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/12/09/sony-pictures-entertainment-hack-extortion-north-korea-cyber/20138507/