(Photo: Myles Aronwitz/Netflix)
Claiming that Netflix failed to meet his or her ransom requests, an internet hacker released ten episodes of the fifth season of “Orange Is the New Black”, which was set to be released on June 9 of this year. The hacker identifies his/herself as “thedarkoverlord” and declares to have stolen unreleased content from ABC, Fox, National Geographic, and IFC as well.
On Twitter, thedarkoverlord wrote, “Oh, what fun we’re all going to have. We’re not playing any games anymore.” Threats like thedarkoverlord’s have become increasingly common along with ransomware, a software that encrypts data and prevents the owner from accessing it until they pay a ransom. Since 2015 Ransomware attacks have increased by 50 percent. The hacker additionally tweeted, “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.”
And it is not thedarkoverlord’s first time threatening companies. His or her recent victims include a charity named Little Red Door Cancer Services of East Central Indiana and three healthcare companies whose information the hacker attempted to sell on the dark web for $490,000. In response to it all Netflix stated, “We are aware of the situation. A production vendor used by several major TV studios had its security compromised and the appropriate law enforcement authorities are involved.”
Alanna Shingler Staff Reporter