It’s been more than a week since news broke that Sony Pictures Entertainment had fallen victim to a vicious cyber attack; now, the scandal has taken another turn.
The group allegedly behind the hack, the Guardians of Peace, sent emails to a number of Sony employees Friday afternoon threatening them, their families, and warning that Sony will “collapse.”
The bizarre message was written in broken English, and reads:
I am the head of GOP who made you worry. Removing Sony Pictures on earth is a very tiny work for our group which is a worldwide organization. And what we have done so far is only a small part of our further plan.
It’s your false if you if you think this crisis will be over after some time. All hope will leave you and Sony Pictures will collapse. This situation is only due to Sony Pictures. Sony Pictures is responsible for whatever the result is. Sony
Pictures clings to what is good to nobody from the beginning. It’s silly to expect in Sony Pictures to take off us. Sony Pictures makes only useless efforts.
One beside you can be our member. Many things beyond imagination will happen at many places of the world. Our agents find themselves act in necessary places. Please sign your name to object the false of the company at the email address below if you don’t want to suffer damage. If you don’t, not only you but your family will be in danger.
Nobody can prevent us, but the only way is to follow our demand. If you want to prevent us, make your company behave wisely.
“This is getting very creepy,” said a source who received the email Friday, via Deadline. “We thought the worst was over.”
In reference to the emails, a Sony spokesperson released this statement on Friday:
We understand that some of our employees have received an email claiming to be from GOP. We are aware of the situation and are working with law enforcement.
Sony has been working closely with the FBI over the attacks, which some have linked to North Korea. However, officials from the country have denied any involvement.
The hack has so far resulted in the shutdown the company’s computer system and has revealed executive, employee, and star information.
Additionally, hackers have also leaked SPE films online, including the still-in-theaters Fury and the yet-to-be-released Annie.
The Sony films have been downloaded and shared on peer-to-peer networks since.
The security breach is likely to cost the studio tens of millions of dollars, according to the L.A. Times.
Sony bosses Michael Lynton and Amy Pascal, who both had details of their financial arrangements with the company made public, have called the cyber attacks “malicious criminal acts.”