For as long as Game Of Thrones has been on the telly, it has suffered problems with illegal online viewers.
Even the premiere of the latest season was hampered by a
frankly staggering amount of illegal streaming and downloading when compared to the number of folk who watch it via their designated broadcasters.
However, this new development brings the problem into a whole new ball-park.
In a statement released to
Entertainment Weekly, the producers at HBO stated:
"HBO recently experienced a cyber incident, which resulted in the compromise of proprietary information. We immediately began investigating the incident and are working with law enforcement and outside cyber-security firms. Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold."
Apparently, over 1.5 terabytes of information was stolen from the HBO data-banks, which included new, currently unreleased episodes to shows such as Game Of Thrones, Ballers and Room 104.
Several entertainment reporters received the following message, claiming to be from the hackers themselves:
"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."
In an internal memo to the staff at HBO, their CEO and chairman Richard Pleper stated the following:
“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. 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.”
The hackers have apparently already released some of the Ballers and Room 104 episodes online, and are threatening to release "more material soon".
