Sony Hack Kills Movie Release Scheduled for Christmas

Sony Hack Kills Movie Release Scheduled for Christmas

As many news outlets have reported, Korea was responsible for the recent cyberattack on Sony Pictures, and how did Sony respond? Well, they pulled the film “The Interview,” a comedy about journalists who scored an interview with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un but were in actuality hired by the CIA to assassinate Un, scheduled to be released on December 25.

Here’s what we know about the hack:

  • The US government is not prepared to issue formal charges against Korea or its leadership;
  • FBI Director James Comey said the attack was very “complicated;”
  • Sony was hit on November 24;
  • A red glowing skeleton appeared on computer screens throughout a Sony subsidiary;
  • Name of hackers: Guardians of Peace; and
  • Guardians of Peace posted a threatening message to attack theaters that showed “The Interview.”

First of all, I think Sony could have picked a better release date, but that’s just my opinion. And, to continue on down the rabbit hole of “my opinion,” at first I was upset by Sony’s actions, thinking if a huge corporation is going to give in, basically tuck their tails and run, to cyberterrorism peer pressure, then how can the “common folks” battle this type of terrorism? It just didn’t make sense to me because Sony has the resources to fight cyberterrorism and it seemed like this would be the perfect time for them to step up.

I expressed my thoughts to some of my colleagues, and while my opinion about the proposed release date isn’t wavering, I do see Sony’s response in a different way. You see, before the shooting at the theater during the Bat Man movie, a theater shooting wasn’t a reality. That shooting made it a reality…made it a possibility, proving that it could happen. Therefore, maybe Sony is scared of this type of attack after the threatening message posted by the Guardians of Peace. Could it be that Sony was actually very forth-thinking in pulling “The Interview” from theaters and the public eye?

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

New Products

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • 4K Video Decoder

    3xLOGIC’s VH-DECODER-4K is perfect for use in organizations of all sizes in diverse vertical sectors such as retail, leisure and hospitality, education and commercial premises.