November 24, 2014
Sony Pictures Entertainment hacked
Attackers destroyed Sony Pictures systems and leaked internal data starting November 24, 2014 — a destructive breach attributed to North Korea over the film The Interview.
What it was for
The GOP (Guardians of Peace) group wiped workstations, leaked unreleased films and executive emails, and threatened theaters. Studios hardened incident response, air-gapped critical assets, and treated nation-state ransomwareMalware that encrypts files and demands payment — a major threat to businesses and hospitals. as a business continuity risk — not just an ITInformation technology — the use of computers, networks, and software in organizations. problem.
Why it's here
Sony Pictures was the first major studio destroyed by nation-state-style destructive malwareMalicious software — viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware designed to harm systems or steal data..
Why it mattered
It linked geopolitics, entertainment, and wipe-and-leak attacks in the public eye.
What it solved
Nothing initially — it showed creative-industry networks were strategic targets.
Media
Image2014 Sony Pictures hackCoolcaesar at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Related
- Stuxnet worm discovered targeting industrial systemsJune 17, 2010
- WannaCry ransomware spreads worldwideMay 12, 2017
- NotPetya destructive malware hits global firmsJune 27, 2017