Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
FBI Investigating HBO Hack, Which Is 7 Times The Size Of Sony Hack
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 2, 2017
Modified Aug 2, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 2, 2017
Modified Aug 2, 2017
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
After HBO admitted it was the victim of a cyber attack, the hackers apparently posted their illegal bounty on a website called WinterLeak.
According to HackRead, "The uploaded data includes... episode 3 and 4 of popular TV series Games of Thrones and its script, episode 1, 2 and 3 of Ballers’s season 3, Episode 1 and 2 of upcoming comedy series Barry, unreleased Episode 2 and 3 of Room 104 TV series, episode 2 of Season 2 of TV series Insecure." Redditors have been discussing the materials, with one noting, "FYI, this is not a full [GoT] script. It is an outline dated from April 2016. So it doesn't have much specific dialogue, just summaries." (Here's a link to Reddit, which includes SPOILERS.)
The FBI is now investigating along with cybersecurity firm Mandiant, and the Hollywood Reporter points out that the hack of 1.5 terabyte is seven times the size of the Sony hack:
The attack was sophisticated... targeting specific content and data housed in different locations, suggesting multiple points of entry. Even more chilling, there was no ransom demand, say sources, leaving the motive in question and raising the specter that video footage, internal documents or even email correspondence could be leaked...
...One insider calls it "nefarious" because it was targeted to specific content and data (as with Sony) and not simply a trawling sweep (as was the case with the Orange Is the New Black heist).
Erik Rasmussen, a former federal prosecutor and Secret Service agent, told the Hollywood Reporter, "At 1.5 terabytes, it could be a whole block of TV, or worse, it could be emails, financial documents, employee or customer information."
Ajay Arora, of security firm Vera, told the outlet that it's very likely video was stolen, explaining, "The entire Library of Congress is estimated to contain 10 terabytes of print content. As such, it's hard to believe that video and/or audio are not part of what was stolen. It will be interesting — and terrifying to HBO and their parent, Time Warner — to see what comes out."
Tagged
cyber attack
fbi
game of thrones
hack
HBO
leak
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 6:00 a.m. ET
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .