Hackers have stolen 1.5 terabytes of data from HBO, including unaired episodes of Ballers and Room 101. A script or "treatment" from next week's Game of Thrones was also leaked.
The hacker(s) sent an email to multiple reporters on Sunday, according to Entertainment Weekly, with this announcement:
"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.”
HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler sent an email to HBO employees Monday morning confirming the breach, although HBO is not commenting on the specific details:
Dear Colleagues,
As most of you have probably heard by now, there has been a cyber incident directed at the company which has resulted in some stolen proprietary information, including some of our programming. Any intrusion of this nature is obviously disruptive, unsettling, and disturbing for all of us.
I can assure you that senior leadership and our extraordinary technology team, along with outside experts, are working round the clock to protect our collective interests. The efforts across multiple departments have been nothing short of herculean. It is a textbook example of quintessential HBO teamwork. The problem before us is unfortunately all too familiar in the world we now find ourselves a part of.
As has been the case with any challenge we have ever faced, I have absolutely no doubt that we will navigate our way through this successfully.
Richard
The network did, however, release this statement:
“HBO recently experienced a cyber incident, which resulted in the compromise of proprietary information,” the network said. “We immediately began investigating the incident and are working with law enforcement and outside cybersecurity firms. Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold.”
An investigation is ongoing, and it is still unknown whether or not any other data was taken.
This isn't the first time content has been leaked prematurely from HBO. Four episodes from season 5 of Game of Thrones were leaked before their premiere, and a new trailer for this year's Comic-Con made its way onto YouTube before the event.
Let's also not forget the massive Sony hack in 2014, the threats to release season 5 of Orange is the New Black prematurely, or the apparently stolen copy of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
As the industries behind our favorite onscreen characters continue to thrive, we can only expect them to be a lucrative target for hackers as well.
Here's hoping you don't go down without a fight, Daenerys.
