Hackers Threaten Disney

Within weeks of hackers threatening Netflix to release episodes of the new season of Orange is the New Black, it seems hackers are now threatening to release the new Pirates of the Caribbean unless Disney pay an undisclosed ransom in bitcoins.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/hackers-steal-disney-film-threaten-to-release-it-unless-ransom-is-paid/news-story/914831198a18197ecfbd8e79ec248b52

Are we seeing a genuine threat for companies or just some arseholes bluffing in the hopes they'll get lucky?

I thought it was bullshit as I'd heard about the threat but nothing about the actual leaking of OITNB, even on 4chan there were no threads about the leaks with spoilers or anything. I did a quick look on torrent sites today and there are some listing the 1st 10 of 13 episodes but I'm not trusting enough to even start downloading it to see if it's genuine. But wikipedia and several news articles are saying the episodes really were released online. You'd think more fuss would have been made about the hackers going through with it, right?

I mean, I saw the last 2 Star Wars movies and Power Rangers on opening day because the UK got them a little earlier than a lot of countries and all of them were spoiled with text and screenshots on at least a day before I saw them. There are a bunch of OITNB threads on there when a new season starts and a bunch of people posting spoilers, but nothing of the new season where most of it is apparently already online.

http://www.tvguide.com/news/orange-is-the-new-black-season-5-leaked-hackers/

The hackers wrote of their act, "It didn't have to be this way, Netflix. You're going to lose a lot more money in all of this than what our modest offer was. We're quite ashamed to breathe the same air as you. We figured a pragmatic business such as yourselves would see and understand the benefits of cooperating with a reasonable and merciful entity like ourselves ... And to the others: there's still time to save yourselves. Our offer(s) are still on the table -- for now."

How would episodes of a show leaking cost Netflix money? If you paid for each viewing it might make sense but Netflix is a monthly subscription service, people are paying for the service regardless of whether or not some episodes show up early, in the same way there are already torrents of the movies they have or will add. It makes no difference. You'd think people smart enough to get the files would be smart enough to realise it does nothing to harm the business plan before demanding money.

Sounds like scaremongering bollocks to me, Netflix didn't go along with it and won't be hurt by that. Let's hope Disney does the same so the scam ends sooner rather than later.

I doubt Pirates is up on a lot of people's priorirty lists either...it's an aging franchise and it's best movies are long behind it

Yeah I don't see much hype around it or Cars 3 which was also brought up in the article, general opinion of both seems to be "another one?" If your going to steal a movie and demand money at least steal a film worth money. I expect both films to have disappointing box office numbers regardless of whether or not they leak.

The cynical part of me wants to say this sounds like a publicity stunt to get people talking about the movie.

As if the Paul McCarntey cameo wasn't desperation enough

They had to try and top Keith Richards somehow.