關于HBO被黑事件的4個問題

攻擊電視網絡HBO的黑客，在周一再次在網上公布了一批內部文件，表明該網絡的電子郵件系統至少有一部分遭到了黑客入侵，盡管HBO 的CEO理查德·普萊普勒曾予以否認。

據《好萊塢報道》稱，周一，標記為“機密”的HBO文件被發布在公網上，其中包括HBO熱門劇集《權力的游戲》新一季的劇情梗概。

現在，黑客要求HBO為剩余資料支付贖金，而HBO仍在進行“取證審查”，確定問題的嚴重程度。

以下是有關HBO被黑事件的主要信息。

黑客是誰？

我們并不知道黑客的具體身份，但我們確實了解到了一點點與他們有關的信息。

一個署名“史密斯先生”的人在上周四給許多人發了一封電子郵件，聲稱參與了此次黑客攻擊?！逗萌R塢報道》也收到了郵件?！笆访芩瓜壬痹卩]件中寫道：“HBO（尤其是可憐的理查德）是在虛張聲勢。我們‘依舊’掌握了他們的網絡電子郵件的完全訪問權限……”這句話可能指的是普萊普勒寫給員工的一篇備忘錄，他在文中稱“我們相信，我們的整個電子郵件系統并未遭到黑客入侵?！?

“史密斯先生”發誓將在周日公布更多黑客盜取的內容，但此事并未發生?！逗萌R塢報道》在當晚晚些時候收到的另一封郵件稱，之所以沒有公開資料是因為“HBO的頂級競爭對手正在與我們協商購買數據?！钡@是不可能的，因為競爭對手購買這些非法獲得的內容，要承擔嚴重的法律后果。

另外，除了向《好萊塢報道》發送電子郵件外，“史密斯先生”是否真得與此次黑客攻擊有關，目前也未得到確認。

黑客盜取了哪些內容？

黑客聲稱掌握了1.5 TB的HBO數據，比2014年索尼被盜數據多了近七倍。

據稱，被盜的HBO數據包括《權力的游戲》的腳本、劇情梗概和營銷材料。目前，《權力的游戲》正在播放倒數第二季。黑客還在網上公布了《球手》和《104號房間》等其他HBO節目未播出的劇集。HBO電影節目副總裁萊斯利·科恩有近一個月的郵件被盜，但郵件內容尚未被公布。

但僅這些資料并不夠1.5TB。假如黑客真得掌握了這么多信息，剩余的數據是什么？目前仍不得而知。

黑客想要什么？

答案顯而易見：金錢。據美聯社報道，“史密斯先生”在周一公開數據時，還給普萊普勒發了一則視頻信息，要求HBO“用比特幣支付我們6個月的工資”作為贖金，據黑客暗示，贖金金額至少達到600萬美元。

比特幣作為一種數字加密貨幣，被許多國際零售商采用，包括微軟、PayPal和Overstock.com等。最近幾個月，這種貨幣的價格創下最高紀錄，因此頻頻登上媒體頭條。在撰寫本文時，比特幣的價格為近3,500美元。由于比特幣很難跟蹤，因此被許多計算機犯罪分子加以利用。

黑客為什么針對《權力的游戲》？

黑客并沒有給出特別針對《權力的游戲》的具體原因。不過，這部幻想劇集之所以遭到網絡攻擊的“特殊對待”，可能是因為它是HBO的招牌劇，因此可以代表整個網絡。黑客在7月31日首次泄密之后發送給媒體的信息中，曾暗示了這一點：

嘿，凡人們?；ヂ摼W時代最大的一次泄密即將到來。是誰呢？哦，忘了告訴大家。是HBO和《權力的游戲》?。。。。?！你們很幸運，能率先見證并下載到泄露數據。好好欣賞吧，并把這個消息分享出去。誰傳播的越廣我們就接受誰的采訪哦。HBO要衰落了。

在這則警告信息中只提到了《權力的游戲》這一部劇?？紤]到它的高評分和熱門程度，黑客們或許認為，將其作為目標，是實現他們的目的的關鍵。（財富中文網）

譯者：劉進龍/汪皓

Hackers targeting television network HBO struck again Monday, releasing a cache of internal documents indicating that the network's email system has been at least partially compromised, despite CEO Richard Plepler's assertion otherwise.

HBO files labeled as "confidential" were posted publicly online Monday, according to the Hollywood Reporter. A script summary for an upcoming episode of the network's premier series, Game of Thrones, was also uploaded.

The hackers are now demanding a ransom for the rest of the material, while HBO is conducting a "forensic review" to figure out the extent of the problem.

Here's everything you need to know about the HBO hack.

Who are the hackers?

We don't know exactly who they are, but we do know a little about them.

Someone going by the name of "Kind Mr. Smith" emailed a number of recipients Thursday claiming to be involved in the attack. In the email, which THR also received, Kind Mr. Smith wrote that "HBO (specially Poor Richard) is Bluffing. We have 'STILL' full access to their webmails...." That's likely a reference to a memo Plepler wrote to employees saying that "we do not believe that our e-mail system as a whole has been compromised."

Kind Mr. Smith vowed to release more content from the hack on Sunday, but that didn't happen. THR received another email later that evening claiming that the material wasn't being released because "some of HBO's top competitors are negotiating with us for buying the dump." But that's unlikely, as rival networks could face serious legal consequences for purchasing such illicitly received content.

It's also unconfirmed if Kind Mr. Smith actually has anything to do with the hack beyond his emails to THR.

What do the hackers have?

The hackers claim to have 1.5 terabytes of HBO data, which is roughly seven times more than the hackers who targeted Sony in 2014 got.

The stolen HBO data allegedly includes scripts, episode summaries and marketing materials for Game of Thrones, which is in the midst of its penultimate season. Unaired episodes of other network shows, Ballers and Room 104, were also posted online. Leslie Cohen, the network’s vice president for film programming, had about a month's worth of emails stolen, but the content of those messages has not yet been revealed.

But those materials alone aren't likely to add up to 1.5 terabytes of data. So what makes up the rest of the cache, assuming the hackers actually do have that much information, remains unknown.

What do the hackers want?

Money, apparently. When the latest data dump came on Monday, "Mr. Smith" also included a video message addressed to Plepler demanding that HBO pay a ransom of “our 6 month salary in bitcoin,” which they implied would amount to at least $6 million, according to the Associated Press.

Bitcoin is a digital cryptocurrency that is accepted by a number of international retailers, including Microsoft, PayPal and Overstock.com. The currency has made headlines in recent months for achieving record value. A single Bitcoin is worth almost $3,500 at this time of writing. Bitcoin is used by many computer criminals because it's difficult to trace.

Why are they targeting Game of Thrones?

The hackers did not give a specific reason as to why Game of Thrones was being hit particularly hard by the cyberattack. But it's likely because the fantasy drama is HBO's marquee series, and thus represents the entire network. The hackers alluded to this in a message to reporters following the initial breach on July 31:

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.

Game of Thrones is the only series called out by name in this warning. Given the huge ratings and hype surrounding the show, the hackers may view targeting it as key to achieving their ends.