Watch the ransom video hackers sent to HBO (set to Game of Thrones music)
http://mashable.com/2017/08/08/hbo-h.../#ZOc4emuzFiqK
HBO is at the center of a massive cyberattack putting 1.5 terabytes of valuable intellectual property and private information at risk. Now the hackers who purportedly executed the attack are back to brag about it.
The hackers who dumped unreleased HBO show scripts, videos, internal documents, emails, and more last week have returned with a second batch of data containing even more sensitive information.
Mashable was able to obtain a portion of the new documents, and they appear to be real. We've reached out to HBO to confirm the legitimacy of the files and will update when we hear back.
https://i.amz.mshcdn.com/zR6wWs2sq9o...e3f7ee53ab.jpg
The second leak includes purportedly leaked scripts and full seasons of various HBO shows, including Curb Your Enthusiasm and Ballers, in addition to more scandalous material like what appears to be HBO CEO Richard Plepler's contact list.
But perhaps the most perplexing is a roughly 5-minute long video ransom note set to the Game of Thrones soundtrack included in the dump. In the video, hackers claim to have reproduced the ransom message sent directly to HBO CEO Richard Plepler demanding money for the stolen data.
"Our demand is clear and Non-Negotiable: We want XXXX dollars to stop leaking your Data," the video message says. ""HBO spends 12 million for Market Research and 5 million for GOT7 advertisements. So consider us another budget for your advertisements!"
Our best guess is the "XXXX" included throughout the video is to serve as a redaction of the ransom amount asked for by the hackers.
Later the video text says, “We often launch two major operations in a year and our annual income is about 12-15 million dollars.... You pay our 6 month salary in bitcoin and we get away from your map." That would make a ransom of $6-7.5 million.
