Sony’s
film division says its computer network is still down more than six
weeks after being hit by a massive computer hack. Sony Pictures
Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton told the Associated Press on Thursday that the cyberattack hasn’t impacted the company’s film and TV schedule.
The network should be back up by the end of January,
according to the report. In the meantime, Sony Pictures’ employees are
still being paid by paper check.
The Sony hack was likely the largest cyberattack ever to occur on American soil, experts say,
by hackers who eventually claimed the attack was a response to the
production of “The Interview,” a comedy film that depicted the fictional
assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Sony canceled the theatrical release of the film, later
offering it for rental through Internet video services. Lynton told the
AP that Sony priced “The Interview” at $5.99, lower than the typical
cost of renting a new film online at $9.99 or more to avoid claims that
it was gouging prices.
The experiment was a minor success, but Sony Pictures is
unlikely to
move to the format exclusively. Lynton told the AP that
theatrical releases were important, especially for comedies since people
enjoy sharing the experience of laughter.
The FBI along with cybersecurity company Mandiant, a
subsidiary of FireEye Inc., came to Sony sometime in the first week
following the attack. The FBI trained Sony employees on identity theft
after access to personal data on thousands of current and former workers
was stolen and made public.
Sony's losses due to the cyberattack were still being calculated, but
Lynton told the AP that they would not be “disruptive to the economic
well being of the company.” He added that most of the investigative work
occurring on company property was completed, while remaining teams of
technicians were working to bring Sony Pictures back online.
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