It seems Sony Pictures is under attack – and the attack comes with the banner ‘hacked by #GOP.’ Who is #GOP, and what have they got against Sony? It’s not clear yet, but it seems Michael Lynton may be a big part of it.

According to a Reddit poster (name withheld per request), who says he is also an ex-employee of Sony Pictures, a friend who still works there has informed him that every computer in the New York office, and, reportedly, every Sony Pictures office across the nation, bears this image:

The text (errors and odd capitalization intact) reads as below:

Hacked By #GOP

Warning:

We’ve already wasned you, and this is just a beggining.
We continue till our request be met.
We’ve obtained all your Internal data, Including your secrets and top secrets.
If you don’t obey us, we’ll release data shown below to the world.
Determine what will you do till November the 24th, 11:00 PM (GMT).

It’s followed by several zip files, that apparently contain the information the hackers believe Sony doesn’t want the world to see.

However, it isn’t just the Sony Pictures offices bearing the signs of attack. Dozens of Twitter feeds connected to movies are showing a similar image, sans text. Others lack the image, but all bear the legend ‘Hacked By #GOP.’

It’s clear that access has already been regained to some Twitter feeds, such as that of Soul Surfer. Though at 1:30pm Eastern it looked like the others, the post (below) had been deleted by 1:45pm. Accounts initially affected included Stomp The Yard, Columbia Classics, Sony Stock Footage, My Daily Clip, Beastly Movie, and dozens of others.

Who is #GOP and what exactly are they asking of Sony Pictures? It isn’t clear, but according to the information contained in the first image, if the company doesn’t figure it out and respond in some way by late this evening, the details of ‘hacked by #GOP’ may become very public after all.

Key Highlights:

  • Cyberattack Overview: Sony Pictures has been hacked by a group identifying themselves as #GOP. The group displayed warning messages across Sony Pictures’ offices and online accounts.
  • Threat Details: The hackers claim to have obtained internal and top-secret data and have threatened to release it unless their undisclosed demands are met by November 24th, 11:00 PM GMT.
  • Nationwide Impact: The attack reportedly affected every Sony Pictures office across the U.S., displaying the same threatening message and accompanying zip files.
  • Social Media Compromise: Numerous Sony-affiliated Twitter accounts were also hacked, with posts and images related to the #GOP hack. Some accounts have regained access and removed the posts.
  • Motives and Demands Unclear: The exact identity of #GOP and their motives remain uncertain, though they have made it clear they demand action from Sony Pictures.
  • Potential Data Leak: The hackers threaten to expose sensitive company information if Sony does not comply, heightening the urgency for a resolution.

Wrapping Up

The Sony Pictures hack by #GOP highlights the growing threat of cyberattacks against corporations.

With sensitive data at risk and the group’s motives unclear, the incident underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. As the deadline approaches, the focus remains on how Sony will respond and whether the group’s threats will materialize.

This breach serves as a wake-up call for organizations to strengthen their defenses against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.