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The cyberattack targeting Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) commenced on November 24, 2014, with the group identifying itself as the 'Guardians of Peace' subsequently claiming attribution for the incident.
Answer: True
The source identifies November 24, 2014, as the commencement date of the hack and notes the 'Guardians of Peace' as the entity claiming responsibility for the attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE).
Sony Pictures became aware of the hack on Friday, November 21, 2014, when executives received an email from "God'sApstls."
Answer: False
Sony Pictures became aware of the hack on Monday, November 24, 2014. While an earlier email from 'God'sApstls' was received on Friday, November 21, the full extent of the breach became apparent on the 24th.
The initial threat received by Sony executives before the main hack was revealed came from the "Guardians of Peace" group.
Answer: False
The initial threat received by Sony executives prior to the main hack's revelation originated from a group identifying as 'God'sApstls,' not the 'Guardians of Peace'.
On December 16, 2014, the "Guardians of Peace" issued threats referencing the September 11 attacks concerning "The Interview."
Answer: True
On December 16, 2014, the 'Guardians of Peace' issued threats that invoked the September 11 attacks in relation to the film 'The Interview,' warning individuals to stay away from cinemas.
The "Guardians of Peace" referenced the September 11 attacks in a message warning people to stay away from cinemas showing "The Interview."
Answer: True
The 'Guardians of Peace' issued a message on December 16, 2014, that referenced the September 11 attacks while warning individuals to avoid cinemas screening 'The Interview'.
When did the 2014 Sony Pictures hack begin, and which group initially claimed responsibility?
Answer: November 24, 2014, by Guardians of Peace
The cyberattack against Sony Pictures Entertainment commenced on November 24, 2014. The hacker group identifying as the 'Guardians of Peace' was the first to claim responsibility for the incident.
The data leaked from Sony Pictures exclusively included unreleased films and future movie plans.
Answer: False
The data breach encompassed a wide array of information beyond unreleased films and future plans, including employee emails, personal data, executive salaries, and screenplays.
Hackers claimed to have stolen approximately 10 terabytes of data from Sony Pictures.
Answer: False
The data breach perpetrators claimed to have stolen over 100 terabytes of data, not approximately 10 terabytes.
Leaked emails revealed internal discussions about Hollywood business affairs but did not contain details about executive salaries or specific film content.
Answer: False
The data breach encompassed a wide array of information beyond Hollywood business affairs, including executive salaries, personal data, unreleased films, future film plans, and screenplays.
Leaked emails showed Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin discussing Angelina Jolie positively, praising her acting abilities.
Answer: False
The leaked emails revealed that Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin discussed Angelina Jolie negatively, with Rudin referring to her as a 'minimally talented spoiled brat'.
Only "The Interview" and the screenplay for "Spectre" were leaked online as a result of the hack.
Answer: False
In addition to 'The Interview' and the 'Spectre' screenplay, several other unreleased films and screenplays were leaked online due to the breach.
The hack revealed that Charlie Sheen had disclosed his HIV diagnosis to Sony executives in March 2014.
Answer: False
The hack revealed that Sony executives were aware of Charlie Sheen's HIV diagnosis prior to his public announcement, but it was not disclosed *to them* by Sheen himself in March 2014; rather, the information was obtained through the breach.
Leaked emails showed Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai urging Amy Pascal to make the assassination scene in "The Interview" more graphic.
Answer: False
Leaked emails indicated that Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai urged Amy Pascal to 'soften' the assassination scene in 'The Interview,' not to make it more graphic.
Which of the following was NOT among the types of confidential data leaked during the Sony Pictures hack?
Answer: Source code for Sony's PlayStation operating system
The leaked data included employee emails, personal information, executive salaries, unreleased films, and future film plans. Source code for the PlayStation operating system was not reported among the leaked materials.
What was the estimated amount of data stolen from Sony Pictures, according to the hackers?
Answer: More than 100 terabytes
The hackers claimed that they had exfiltrated more than 100 terabytes of data from Sony Pictures' systems.
Leaked emails revealed embarrassing exchanges between executives, including a controversial discussion between Amy Pascal and which producer?
Answer: Scott Rudin
The leaked emails exposed controversial discussions between Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin, notably concerning Angelina Jolie and remarks perceived as racist.
Besides "The Interview," which of the following was also leaked online due to the hack?
Answer: The screenplay for the upcoming film "Spectre"
In addition to 'The Interview,' the screenplay for the upcoming James Bond film 'Spectre' was among the confidential materials leaked online as a result of the cyberattack.
The primary demand of the "Guardians of Peace" was for Sony Pictures to release its controversial film "The Interview" immediately.
Answer: False
The primary demand of the 'Guardians of Peace' was for Sony Pictures to withdraw the release of its controversial film 'The Interview,' not to release it.
Following the threats, Sony Pictures decided to give "The Interview" a wide, mainstream theatrical release before opting for a digital release.
Answer: False
Contrary to this statement, Sony Pictures initially cancelled the mainstream release of 'The Interview' due to threats. It was subsequently released through a limited theatrical run and digital platforms.
"The Interview" was ultimately released only through a limited theatrical run on Christmas Day, with no digital option available.
Answer: False
Following the cancellation of its wide release, 'The Interview' was made available through both a limited theatrical run on Christmas Day and via digital platforms.
The cancellation of the film "Pyongyang" starring Steve Carell was unrelated to the Sony hack threats.
Answer: False
The cancellation of the planned film adaptation of 'Pyongyang,' starring Steve Carell, was a direct consequence of the threats and controversy surrounding the Sony Pictures hack.
What specific threat did the "Guardians of Peace" make that led many U.S. theater chains to stop showing "The Interview"?
Answer: Threats of "terrorist attacks" at cinemas
The 'Guardians of Peace' issued explicit threats of 'terrorist attacks' at cinemas planning to screen 'The Interview,' which prompted numerous U.S. theater chains to withdraw the film.
How did Sony Pictures ultimately handle the release of "The Interview" after major theaters withdrew?
Answer: They opted for a digital release followed by a limited theatrical release.
Sony Pictures ultimately pursued a strategy involving both a digital release across multiple platforms and a limited theatrical run on Christmas Day after major theaters withdrew.
What consequence did the Sony hack threats have on other film productions?
Answer: A planned film adaptation of "Pyongyang" starring Steve Carell was cancelled.
As a direct consequence of the threats and climate of fear generated by the Sony hack, the planned production of a film adaptation of 'Pyongyang,' starring Steve Carell, was cancelled.
North Korea accused President Obama of being the main instigator behind Sony's decision to distribute "The Interview."
Answer: True
North Korea's National Defence Commission accused President Obama of being the 'chief culprit' responsible for compelling Sony Pictures Entertainment to distribute 'The Interview'.
The FBI linked North Korea to the hack based on similarities in malware code, compromised infrastructure, and the use of tools previously used against South Korean entities.
Answer: True
The FBI's attribution of the hack to North Korea was based on technical evidence, including shared malware code, compromised infrastructure, and the utilization of tools previously employed in cyberattacks against South Korean entities.
FBI Director James Comey suggested that North Korea's open internet environment made it easy for third parties to hijack IP addresses used in the attack.
Answer: False
FBI Director James Comey suggested that North Korea's *highly controlled* internet environment made it difficult for third parties to hijack IP addresses without state complicity, thereby supporting the attribution to North Korea.
North Korea officially denied involvement and proposed a joint investigation with the U.S. to identify the hackers.
Answer: True
North Korea officially denied responsibility for the hack and proposed a joint investigation with the United States to identify the perpetrators.
The "inside job" theory proposed by Norse suggested that disgruntled former Sony employees were responsible for the attack.
Answer: True
The 'inside job' theory, notably proposed by cybersecurity firm Norse, posited that disgruntled former Sony employees were responsible for orchestrating the attack.
The FBI formally accepted the Norse assessment that the hack was an inside job after a brief review.
Answer: False
The FBI formally rejected Norse's assessment that the hack was an inside job, maintaining its attribution to North Korea based on its own evidence.
Kevin Mandia, president of FireEye, found evidence supporting the theory that an insider was responsible for the attack.
Answer: False
Kevin Mandia, president of FireEye, stated that there was not a 'shred of evidence' supporting the theory that an insider was responsible for the attack.
The 2016 Novetta report concluded the intrusion was likely committed by hacktivists, not a well-resourced state actor.
Answer: False
The 2016 Novetta report concluded the intrusion was likely committed by a well-resourced state actor, not hacktivists, and suggested its findings could support the FBI's attribution to North Korea.
The FBI's reasoning for attributing the hack to North Korea included the hackers' use of easily traceable IP addresses from open networks.
Answer: False
While IP addresses were considered, FBI Director James Comey suggested that North Korea's controlled internet environment made it difficult for third parties to hijack IP addresses without state complicity, implying a sophisticated use rather than 'easily traceable' methods.
An NSA report revealed they became aware of the hack's origins through their own cyber intrusions into North Korea's network, established due to concerns about the country's technological advancements.
Answer: True
An NSA report indicated that awareness of the hack's origins stemmed from prior cyber intrusions into North Korea's network, which the NSA had established due to concerns regarding the nation's technological capabilities.
According to U.S. intelligence officials, who sponsored the 2014 Sony Pictures hack?
Answer: The government of North Korea
U.S. intelligence officials concluded that the government of North Korea sponsored the 2014 Sony Pictures hack.
How did North Korea officially respond to the U.S. government's accusations of sponsoring the hack?
Answer: They denied involvement but suggested the hack might be a "righteous deed" by supporters.
North Korea officially denied involvement in the hack, characterizing the accusations as 'wild rumors,' while simultaneously suggesting the action might have been a 'righteous deed' by its sympathizers.
What technical evidence did the FBI cite to link North Korea to the Sony hack?
Answer: Similarities in malware code and infrastructure used in previous attacks on South Korean entities.
The FBI cited technical evidence such as similarities in malware code, compromised network infrastructure, and the use of tools previously employed in cyberattacks against South Korean entities to link North Korea to the hack.
What alternative theory regarding the hack's origin was proposed by some cybersecurity experts, such as those from Norse?
Answer: It was an "inside job" orchestrated by disgruntled former employees.
Some cybersecurity experts, including those from Norse, proposed an alternative theory suggesting the hack was an 'inside job,' potentially orchestrated by disgruntled former Sony employees.
How did the FBI respond to the alternative "inside job" theory proposed by Norse?
Answer: They formally rejected the theory, maintaining their attribution to North Korea.
The FBI formally rejected the 'inside job' theory proposed by Norse, reaffirming its conclusion that the hack was state-sponsored by North Korea.
What did Kevin Mandia, president of FireEye, state regarding the "insider threat" theory for the Sony hack?
Answer: He stated there was not a "shred of evidence" supporting an insider's responsibility.
Kevin Mandia, president of FireEye, declared that 'not a shred of evidence' supported the hypothesis of insider involvement in the attack. He affirmed that FireEye's findings corroborated the U.S. government's attribution of the hack to North Korea.
The malware used in the attack was identified as a variant of the "DDoS" tool, designed to overwhelm servers.
Answer: False
The malware employed was identified as a variant of the 'Shamoon' wiper malware, designed for data destruction, not a DDoS tool.
The malware components used in the attack were solely intended for data extraction and did not include tools for system destruction.
Answer: False
The malware components included tools for data extraction, system disruption, and destruction, indicating a multi-faceted attack strategy.
The combination of malware components indicated a primary intent to simply disrupt network connectivity.
Answer: False
The malware components indicated a broader intent, including gaining repeated access, extracting data, causing destruction, and erasing evidence, not merely disrupting network connectivity.
What type of malware was identified as being used by the hackers to damage Sony's infrastructure?
Answer: A variant of the "Shamoon" wiper malware
The malware identified as being used to damage Sony's infrastructure was a variant of the 'Shamoon' wiper malware, known for its data-erasing capabilities.
Sony Pictures contacted the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for assistance following the hack.
Answer: False
Sony Pictures contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the private security firm FireEye for assistance. There is no indication in the source material that the NSA or CIA were directly contacted by Sony for this purpose.
In its first quarter financials for 2015, Sony Pictures set aside $150 million to address the damages caused by the hack.
Answer: False
Sony Pictures set aside $15 million, not $150 million, in its first quarter 2015 financials to address damages and bolster cybersecurity.
Former Sony Pictures employees filed lawsuits against the company, alleging it failed to protect their sensitive medical details released in the hack.
Answer: True
Following the hack, former Sony Pictures employees initiated lawsuits, asserting that the company inadequately safeguarded their sensitive personal and medical information that was subsequently exposed.
The U.S. Department of Justice formally charged a North Korean citizen named Park Jin-hyok in 2018 for his role in the Sony hack.
Answer: True
On September 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Park Jin-hyok, a North Korean citizen, alleging his involvement in the Sony Pictures hack.
The DOJ alleged Park Jin-hyok was solely responsible for the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017.
Answer: False
The DOJ alleged that Park Jin-hyok was *partially* responsible for the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, not solely responsible.
President Obama proposed legislation to Congress to update laws like the RICO Act to better prosecute cybercrimes.
Answer: True
President Obama proposed legislative updates, including to the RICO Act, aimed at enhancing the prosecution of cybercrimes and aligning them with traditional criminal justice frameworks.
Sony threatened legal action against Twitter for failing to remove leaked material promptly.
Answer: True
Sony Pictures threatened legal action against Twitter, demanding the suspension of accounts that were distributing material obtained from the hack.
Which U.S. government agency was initially contacted by Sony Pictures for assistance following the hack?
Answer: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Sony Pictures initially contacted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for assistance in investigating the cyberattack and its aftermath.
What financial impact did the hack have on Sony Pictures, as reflected in their Q1 2015 financials?
Answer: They set aside $15 million to address damages and bolster cybersecurity.
In its first quarter 2015 financial reporting, Sony Pictures allocated $15 million to mitigate damages from the hack and enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure.
What action did Sony take regarding Twitter in response to the distribution of hacked material?
Answer: Sony threatened legal action against Twitter if it did not suspend accounts posting hacked material.
Sony Pictures threatened legal action against Twitter, demanding the suspension of accounts that were disseminating the stolen material obtained from the hack.
What was the U.S. government's response in January 2015 regarding North Korea's alleged involvement?
Answer: Economic sanctions were imposed on North Korea via Executive Order.
In January 2015, the U.S. government responded to North Korea's alleged involvement by imposing additional economic sanctions through an Executive Order.
According to the DOJ, Park Jin-hyok was allegedly partially responsible for which other significant cyberattack besides the Sony hack?
Answer: The 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack
The Department of Justice alleged that Park Jin-hyok bore partial responsibility for the development of ransomware software used in the 2017 WannaCry attack, in addition to his alleged role in the Sony hack.
The Daily Dot reported that Sony executive Charles Sipkins was responsible for editing Wikipedia articles about senior executives based on leaked emails.
Answer: True
Reporting by The Daily Dot, based on the leaked emails, indicated that Sony executive Charles Sipkins was tasked with editing Wikipedia entries concerning senior executives.
WikiLeaks refused to republish the data obtained from the Sony hack, citing privacy concerns.
Answer: False
WikiLeaks did not refuse to republish the data; rather, they republished over 30,000 documents obtained from the hack in April 2015.
President Obama praised Sony's decision to cancel the mainstream release of "The Interview," calling it a prudent measure against terrorism.
Answer: False
President Obama publicly stated that he believed Sony Pictures made a mistake by cancelling the mainstream release of 'The Interview,' asserting that producers should not be intimidated by such threats.
Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton claimed the decision to cancel the wide release was primarily due to the hackers' direct threats.
Answer: False
Michael Lynton, CEO of Sony Entertainment, stated that the decision to cancel the wide release was primarily influenced by the majority of theaters withdrawing their showings, rather than solely the hackers' threats.
Cybersecurity experts like Kim Zetter expressed strong confidence in the U.S. government's attribution of the hack to North Korea.
Answer: False
Cybersecurity experts, including journalist Kim Zetter, expressed skepticism and doubt regarding the U.S. government's attribution of the hack to North Korea, citing circumstantial evidence.
American screenwriter Aaron Sorkin argued that the media's reporting on the hack was helping the hackers.
Answer: True
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin articulated the view that media coverage of the Sony hack inadvertently amplified the impact of the leaks, thereby assisting the perpetrators.
Reddit banned the subreddit r/SonyGOP because it was used to *organize* the hack itself.
Answer: False
Reddit banned the subreddit r/SonyGOP because it was utilized as a platform for distributing the files stolen during the hack, not for organizing the hack itself.
"Hustler" magazine announced plans to create a documentary about the North Korean regime in response to the hack.
Answer: False
'Hustler' magazine announced plans to produce a pornographic parody film based on 'The Interview,' not a documentary about the North Korean regime.
Media coverage of the Sony hack in China was extensive, mirroring the detailed reporting found in Western media.
Answer: False
Media coverage of the Sony hack in China was notably limited and subject to censorship, in stark contrast to the extensive and detailed reporting prevalent in Western media.
What was President Obama's public stance on Sony's decision to pull "The Interview" from mainstream release?
Answer: He believed Sony made a mistake and should not be intimidated.
President Obama publicly stated his belief that Sony Pictures erred in cancelling the mainstream release of 'The Interview,' emphasizing that creative entities should not yield to intimidation tactics.
What was Aaron Sorkin's perspective on the media's role in reporting the Sony hack?
Answer: He felt the media was inadvertently helping the hackers by reporting on the leaks.
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin articulated that the media's extensive reporting on the Sony hack and its leaked materials inadvertently aided the perpetrators by amplifying the impact of their actions.
Why did Reddit ban the subreddit r/SonyGOP?
Answer: It was used as a platform to distribute the files stolen during the hack.
Reddit banned the subreddit r/SonyGOP because it was identified as a platform utilized for the distribution of files exfiltrated during the Sony Pictures hack.
How did the media coverage and access to information about the hack differ in China compared to the West?
Answer: Chinese media coverage was limited and censored.
Media coverage of the Sony hack in China was notably limited and subject to censorship, in stark contrast to the extensive and detailed reporting prevalent in Western media.