SONY HACK

[HairOfTheDog]

PRESIDENT OBAMA WEIGHS-IN

From his year-end press conference today.



'Sony's a corporation. It has suffered significant damage. There were threats against its employees. I am sympathetic to the concerns that they faced.'

'Having said all that, yes, I think they made a mistake.'

'I wish they had spoken to me first.'

'I would have told then, "Do not get into a pattern in which you're intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks".'

'Americans shouldn't change their movie-going habits and film studios shouldn't cancel releases, any more than Boston didn't run its marathon this year because of the possibility that someone might try to cause harm.'

'We cannot have a policy where some dictator somewhere can start imposing censorship here in the United States.'

Citing 'The Interview' as a harmless 'satirical' film, he explained that calls for censorship could get worse. 'imagine what they say when they see a documentary they don't like, or news reports they don't like.'

I imagine that most Americans -- be they Republican, Democrat or otherwise -- support Obama's position on this one.

[HairOfTheDog]

^ Obama calls them "criminal attacks" not "terrorist attacks".

In response to the OP question, I tend to agree that the hackers' activities are "criminal acts" and not specifically "terrorist acts".

I see this more as international "extortion or blackmail" as opposed to "terrorism" (up to the point that the hackers actually threatened politically-motivated physical attacks against Americans; then it became "terrorist threats", IMO).

[Cutz]

Obama should buy the movie and America should play it in public schools across the nation.

[Duchess]

Blackmailed by Kim Jong. That's both pathetic & hilarious.

[username]

I too understand the theaters' safety concerns, though I'm undecided as to whether I agree with their decisions to pull out (in principle). Tough call.

In any case, the FBI has confirmed that the hackers are from North Korea.

FAHQTOO was right; the cave is already resulting in more demands and gloating from the hackers.

Today's hacker's message to Sony is effectively a victory lap, telling the studio, "Now we want you never let the movie released, distributed or leaked in any form of, for instance, DVD or piracy."

The message also says, "And we want everything related to the movie, including its trailers, as well as its full version down from any website hosting them immediately."

It warns the studio executives that "we still have your private and sensitive data" and claims that they will "ensure the security of your data unless you make additional trouble."

http://money.cnn.com/2014/12/19/media/in...?hpt=hp_t1

Yeah I said all of the above in different posts but go ahead and ignore me, bitch.

[HairOfTheDog]

Yeah I said all of the above in different posts but go ahead and ignore me, bitch.

I could never ignore you. You're high, French Fry.

So, I just re-read the thread. I enjoyed re-reading your posts -- they were even better the second time around.

However, I did not see where you said all of the same stuff in different posts, though you did allude to the "thank you" message, and I posted the article with the exact wording when I came across it. That's true.

[username]

I said the theaters refused to show the movie. I said the hackers basically said thanks and then went on with their demands. I also said that the issue now was Sony is searching for online companies willing to broadcast it and so far, no company has agreed. Netflix might be thinking about it though.
Meh. Maybe my posts need to be more verbose to capture your attention.

It's ok though. It's not like I CARE if you ignore me. But if you have any pets, you might want to lock them up and put away the big pots for a few nights. j/s.

[HairOfTheDog]

I said the theaters refused to show the movie. I said the hackers basically said thanks and then went on with their demands. I also said that the issue now was Sony is searching for online companies willing to broadcast it and so far, no company has agreed. Netflix might be thinking about it though.
Meh. Maybe my posts need to be more verbose to capture your attention.

It's ok though. It's not like I CARE if you ignore me. But if you have any pets, you might want to lock them up and put away the big pots for a few nights. j/s.

Did you lose sight of your point? You said you'd first posted what I ignored and later posted myself, remember? Let's fact check your claim, shall we?

-I posted first about the theaters shelving the movie altogether and then you slid in under me and added to the point. Duchess actually posted first about theaters not showing it. So.....no repetition of you on my part. You be trippin'.
Your score:

-Yes, you posted first about the "thank you" message before I posted the actual thank you message in full. So....you scooped that shit but good!! Good job.
Your score:

-I never posted about Sony searching for online or cable distribution channels at all.
So.....no repetition on my part. You be trippin'.
Your score:


P.s. regarding your suggestion about the pets and the pots, I have no idea what the hell you're talking about. But, ignore my ignorance. No explanation required...........unless you've got a wordy one -- then I might read it cuz those tend to make sense; they're the best.

[Duchess]

North Korea has denied a role in this hack and has proposed a joint investigation with the United States. If we turn down their offer we will suffer serious consequences. Uh huh.

[HairOfTheDog]

North Korea has denied a role in this hack and has proposed a joint investigation with the United States. If we turn down their offer we will suffer serious consequences. Uh huh.

I'm no fan of North Korea or Kim Jong-un, that's for sure.

But, I wouldn't mind seeing the evidence that the government of North Korea was behind the hacking myself.

Those GOP hackers never claimed to be on a governmental mission. That sure as hell doesn't mean they weren't. But, I'd like to hear why President Obama is sure the NK government was behind the attacks before the US retaliates against the country.

This made me laugh a little, from the North Korean State media: “We have a way to prove that we have nothing to do with the case without resorting to torture, as what the C.I.A. does,” the statement said.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/world/....html?_r=0


Everybody's a smart-ass

[HairOfTheDog]

Sony's CEO Michael Lynton was interviewed yesterday.

He says he is disappointed in President Obama's statements and that Sony absolutely did not "cave".

As previously stated, I agree with Obama that caving in to extortion/blackmail/terrorist threats is not prudent, but also understand the movie theaters' safety concerns.

I don't know if Kim Jong-un and his government were behind the hacking and/or the terrorist threat without seeing anything more than the FBI's brief statement that some of what they uncovered in their investigation is consistent with previous hacking from North Korea.

As for Sony, this is the statement they released 3 days ago:
“In light of the decision by the majority of our exhibitors not to show the film The Interview, we have decided not to move forward with the planned December 25 theatrical release. We respect and understand our partners’ decision and, of course, completely share their paramount interest in the safety of employees and theater-goers.

“Sony Pictures has been the victim of an unprecedented criminal assault against our employees, our customers, and our business. Those who attacked us stole our intellectual property, private emails, and sensitive and proprietary material, and sought to destroy our spirit and our morale – all apparently to thwart the release of a movie they did not like. We are deeply saddened at this brazen effort to suppress the distribution of a movie, and in the process do damage to our company, our employees, and the American public. We stand by our filmmakers and their right to free expression and are extremely disappointed by this outcome.”

A spokesperson later said that Sony has no further release plans for the film.

Maybe Sony's statement was interpreted as "caving" because they failed to acknowledge that they were exploring other distribution channels and/or release dates for the film, if they really were (or failed to explain that it was not financially viable to do so).

In any case, Sony insists it didn't cave and the North Korean government insists it was not behind the hacking (though they applaud the motive) and not behind the threat to harm American movie-goers (which they condemn). They are now suggesting that they were framed. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/12/20/world/...-response/

Here's Wired Magazine's analysis of the hacking, published earlier this week: http://www.wired.com/2014/12/evidence-of...k-is-thin/

This is all very interesting to me. It's bound to be attempted again on a larger scale IMO, so I think how it's handled in this case is very important.

[Duchess]

I hope this has some positive effect on cyber law in general, as it stands now there isn't much recourse for those affected in a negative way, it's still a lot like the Wild West.

[Cutz]

Cyber law can't really be effective internationally tho.

[username]

I really hope this comes to pass.

The infamous hacker collective Anonymous has announced that they’ll be responding to North Korea for the Sony hack. The hackers known as #GOP, or Guardians of Peace, who are believed to be a North Korean group, have been compared to Anonymous, and Anon has expressed agreement with them on some matters. However, now that Sony has pulled The Interview from theaters in response to the hacking and threats, Anon has turned their eyes on North Korea in a less agreeable light.

Thursday evening into Friday morning, one of Anonymous’ many Twitter accounts offered responses to the Sony hack, and the decision to pull the movie, hinting that Anonymous would be offering the movie to the world themselves.


Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/1691688/anonymo...YxHP9Zi.99

[HairOfTheDog]

Grab your popcorn

Sony's now announcing limited screening of "The Interview".

Moviegoers will be able to see "The Interview" after all. Sony announced on Tuesday that "The Interview" will have a "limited theatrical release" in the Untied States on Christmas Day.

"We have never given up on releasing 'The Interview' and we're excited our movie will be in a number of theaters on Christmas Day," Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Entertainment, said in a statement. "At the same time, we are continuing our efforts to secure more platforms and more theaters so that this movie reaches the largest possible audience.

"I want to thank our talent on 'The Interview' and our employees, who have worked tirelessly through the many challenges we have all faced over the last month," Lynton added. "While we hope this is only the first step of the film's release, we are proud to make it available to the public and to have stood up to those who attempted to suppress free speech."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/23...e&ir=Crime
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I don't know if Sony reversed course because Kim threatened to sharpen NK's bayonets and attack America's citadels (scary shit), or because the hackers posted a youtube mocking the FBI and calling them idiots (hurtful indeed), or because Sony execs simply had a moment of clarity (one can hope).

But, it's on again anyway...

[Cutz]

Would you go see it in theaters?

[Duchess]

If it interested me, I would. I heard on the news yesterday that 3 independent theaters in my little state will be showing it.

[Maggot]

I think I will name my next cat Sony. So when the hairballs start spewing forth I can yell "Sony hack" "Sony hack!!!"

[Blindgreed1]

Brilliant publicity stunt by Sony.

[sally]

I bought it for $5.99, it sucks. I gave it about an hour and it still sucks, that's why I'm here on the computer instead of watching it. Pretty ridiculous that it's caused such a stink.