Cyber Vandalism: How Terrorists Hacked Into Sony's System To Prevent 'The Interview' (Full Story)

The now very controversial comedy stars James Franco (left) and Seth Rogen (right) as journalists who assassinate North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un

For some weeks now, the story of how Sony Pictures was hacked by terrorists to prevent the release of a movie titled 'The Interview'which stars James Franco and Seth Rogen has been trending online.

The movie, a comedy, centres around how two journalists(Franco and Rogen)  assassinate North Korea’s dictator, Kim Jong-un.

After the movie was announced, North Korean government warned Sony Pictures against releasing the film, saying it insulted the country's dignity amongst other reasons.
Shortly after the warning, the film company Sony Pictures systems were hacked into. 

The hackers, who call themselves 'Guardians of Peace' also warned of an attack similar to the the September 11, 2001 incident, if the company went ahead to release the movie in theatres on 25th December as scheduled.

As a results of the threat to bomb cinemas, Sony cancelled the premiere of the movie in movie theatres across the country, and is now considering other ways to release the movie online, via Youtube, Netflix and other channels.

President Obama condemned the attack, adding that Sony 'made a mistake' in their decision to pull the film, and that the US will not be cave in to terrorists. He also accused North Korea of being behind the attack.
Responding to President Obama, tyrant Kim Jong-un denied North Korea's involvement in the hack. He however described the act of terror as a 'righteous deed'.

Read the summary of all that has happened in what has been described as the worst case of cyber terrorism in history  below:

Earlier this month, Sony cancelled The Interview's premiere and delayed its 25 December release date, after hackers threatened real-world attacks on cinemas screening it. The vast majority of cinema chains which were set to screen the movie also pulled it after these threats

SONY HACK: A TIMELINE

• The Interview comedy stars James Franco and Seth Rogen as journalists who assassinate North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un.

• Following the announcement of the film, the North Korean government is said to have issued statements warning against the film’s release to executives at Sony Pictures Entertainment.

• On 24 November 24, the Sony Pictures Entertainment computer network was breached, and employees were shown an image that revealed they had been hacked by a group called Guardians of Peace, or GOP.

• GOP said it had obtained, as well as wiped, data from Sony's servers including email exchanges between chairman Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin.

• Other leaked documents revealed personal information about Sony employees, as well as pay details of actors, and copies of upcoming films including Brad Pitt’s Fury, Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner plus a script for the newest James Bond film.

• On 24 November 24, the Sony Pictures Entertainment computer network was breached. The hackers said it had obtained, as well as wiped, data from Sony's servers including email exchanges between chairman Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin. Other leaked documents included copies of upcoming films

• The hackers then made demands and warned that the 'world will be full of fear. Remember the 11th September 2001.'

• Sony cancelled the premiere of The Interview and four of the five major North American theatres chains - Cinemark, Cineplex, Regal Cinemas, and AMC Entertainment - announced plans to pull the film.

• Social media accounts, designed to promote the film, were taken offline and Sony said it would be delay the film's theatrical release.

• A statement from the FBI then explicitly linked the attack to the Korean regime, saying technical details from the hack have Korean hallmarks.

• But Kim Jong-un's officials responded by calling FBI claims a 'fabrication', and describing U.S. actions as 'gangster-like'.

• North Korea called the hack a 'righteous deed' - and reiterated that it 'highly esteems' the attack - but said it had no idea where it came from.

• The government also claimed to have 'clear evidence' the US government engineered the project as a 'propaganda' attack against North Korea.

• North Korea then threatened more attacks against the US government and other American institutions.

• Referring to America as a 'cesspool of terrorism', the country said it had already lashed out at the 'citadels of the US imperialists', naming the White House and Pentagon in particular.

• According to the post, the North Korean government is also convinced directors Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg were under direct instruction from US officials, who told them to include extra scenes to 'insult the dignity' of North Korea. 

• President Barack Obama said Sony had 'made a mistake' in their decision to pull the film, to which Sony Entertainment boss Michael Lynton responded: 'Sony has been fighting to get this picture distributed. It will be distributed.'

Interestingly, critics rate the movie poorly, but with all the fuss by North Korea and the hacking saga, everyone(including me) is now very curious about the controversial movie. More confidential emails are still being leaked, and the US is still very keen on unraveling the mystery behind the hacking.

Will keep you guys posted on more details as it unfolds.

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