Hackers hit HBO, warn they’ll release Game of Thrones content

The sanctity of Game of Thrones’ seven kingdoms is under attack by a new force that goes far beyond the White Walkers and Cersei Lannister. Entertainment Weekly reports that hackers claim to have acquired 1.5 terabytes of data from HBO in a recent cyberattack against the network, and have already released unaired episodes of Ballers and Room 104 online.

But the most devastating revelation centers on HBO’s marquee series. An alleged outline for the upcoming fourth episode of Game of Thrones’ seventh season has been posted online, after being sent out via a cryptic and oddly worded email that the hackers anonymously sent to several different reporters.

Per EW, the email read:

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.

HBO has confirmed that a cyberattack took place, both to EW and in internal statements obtained by the news outlet. “The problem before us is unfortunately all too familiar in the world we now find ourselves a part of,” HBO Chair and CEO Richard Plepler wrote in an email to employees.

The network has not commented on what specific content the hackers may have acquired. But this incident fits a pattern that seems to be part of a growing trend in Hollywood.

Back in April, Netflix was hacked, and episodes of Orange Is the New Black season five were released online prior to its debut. A hacking group called the Dark Overlord claimed responsibility for that hack and said that they had also acquired not only more Netflix programming but also content from ABC and Fox. They subsequently leaked eight episodes of Steve Harvey’s Funderdome in June ahead of its premiere.

As the Verge has noted, Game of Thrones leaks are something that HBO has battled previously, though not necessarily because of hacking. In 2015, the first four episodes of season five were leaked online prior to the season premiere. In 2016, HBO Nordic accidentally released an episode of season six one day early.

There are four remaining episodes in Game of Thrones’ seventh season, which airs its finale on August 27, but it seems that HBO’s most high-stakes drama will no longer be contained to Sunday nights.

The motivation for the hack appears to be quite straight forward: money. An email from someone named “Kind Mr. Smith” claiming to have perpetrated the attack was obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, and in it the sender claims to have had “weeks” of negations with HBO regarding the stolen information. “They broke their promises and want to play with us,” it says, though it is still unconfirmed if the sender was involved in the attack on Monday. This latest email is written in the same caustic tone as the original message, which feels like something out of an early 2000s hacker film.

If the severity of the hack wasn’t already apparent, the Hollywood Reporter also noted on Wednesday that the FBI has gotten involved in the investigation.

For further proof that HBO is having an even worse week than Daenerys Targaryen, episode four of Game of Thrones leaked online Friday. According to a report from the Verge, this leak was not connected to the hack, and instead involves the network’s distribution partner, Star India.

“Kind Mr. Smith” has promised to release more content at 12:00 GMT this coming Sunday, and stated that the leaks will continue to occur periodically over the coming weeks.

The latest message also threatens the release of emails from HBO higher-ups, and references Plepler directly. In 2014, a hacker group named Guardians of Peace attacked Sony and released internal emails that sparked controversy over films like Concussion, exposed the gender pay gap, and included crass jokes about President Barack Obama.