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HBO has reportedly been robbed of its unreleased digital content.
Entertainment Weekly and other outlets are saying that more than 1.5 terabytes of data has been stolen from HBO by hackers. The theft includes full episodes of Ballers and new series Room 104, which have subsequently been released online. The breach also appears to include a partial script for next week’s episode of Game of Thrones. Those responsible claim that more content is on the way.
HBO joins the ranks of other high-profile media companies targeted by hackers. In May the latest season of Orange is the New Black was stolen and held hostage by an anonymous person or group called TheDarkOverlord. That same month hackers threatened to release a Disney movie if the studio didn’t submit to their demands. Those and other threats prompted HBO to order enhanced security, even among actors themselves.
It appears that those countermeasures were not enough.
EW and other outlets received an anonymous email on Sunday announcing the hack and promising an interview to the publication that spread the news most efficiently. If true, it could be a signal that the hacking group is looking to publicize itself or its tools, a strategy shared by those who brought down Sony and Microsoft’s online game services some years back.
Polygon has reached out to HBO for comment.
