HBO is trying to get $250,000 in bitcoin to pay hackers who stole GoT scripts

[dothebeats]

Well that goes to show how poor HBO's database is. A multi-million dollar company like them should have a well-secured system knowing that hacks and the likes are pretty much evident in our times. But to be honest, the leaks were anticipated by many people and after a few days, the hype is gone and most people don't want to listen to spoilers anyway. $250000 is just a small chump change from HBO to learn their lesson in strengthening their databases.

It's as if things like this don't happen in fiat, duh.

[xFiber]

Yes it's sad that bitcoin and criminal activities are still associated with each other. I mentioned the HBO leaks in my latest steemit post and how it may have a bad influence of bitcoin's general image.

[BillyBobZorton]

Hackers who stole data from HBO have leaked an email from a company executive showing negotiations over a ransom.
The HBO executive said the company would pay $250,000 in bitcoin as a "bug bounty payment."
Scripts from shows such as "Game of Thrones" were stolen last month.

Read the full article here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/hbo-hack-game-of-thrones-ransom.html

I can't believe that they're actually willing to pay 250K in Bitcoin just to prevent the scripts from being released.
Even if the scripts were released, I doubt they would lose any fans over it. It's not like that many people would even read it.

Still sad that Bitcoin is being associated with crime again.

This is the type of news that bring a ton of mainstream attention into bitcoin. It's clear that bitcoin can be used for bad and for good, and paying ransomware is unfortunately a very common practice that im not very proud of.

But if it wasn't for that feature, the positive side effect like people in Venezuela being able to feed their families in the middle of a dictatorship, wouldn't be possible as well, because fixing one kills the other use case.

[joseafonso123az]

The volatibility of bitcoin could suffer with this kind of news. It may suffer a loss because this news degrade  this currency.  Unfortunately bitcoin is a treasure for hackers to go unknown after receiving their ransom.

[BillyBobZorton]

Hackers who stole data from HBO have leaked an email from a company executive showing negotiations over a ransom.
The HBO executive said the company would pay $250,000 in bitcoin as a "bug bounty payment."
Scripts from shows such as "Game of Thrones" were stolen last month.

Read the full article here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/hbo-hack-game-of-thrones-ransom.html

I can't believe that they're actually willing to pay 250K in Bitcoin just to prevent the scripts from being released.
Even if the scripts were released, I doubt they would lose any fans over it. It's not like that many people would even read it.

Still sad that Bitcoin is being associated with crime again.

I don't know why they would pay $250,000 in Bitcoin to pay ransom for some scripts that will likely be read a couple times to completion, published and talked about for 3 days, and then forgotten about until their actual episodes come out. At most, there will be spoilers that can come of it, but even that is doubtful and probably won't end up happening in any meaningful manner. People will still subscribe to their channel, they will watch the show, and then probably lose their minds after the series comes to an end, and the books probably won't even be finished before the author dies. Unless he starts to expedite the series and stops taking such a long time writing each novel.

I understand it completely. Even 3 days of spoilers is enough to cause a ton of damage in the argumentative development of the series. It's just a shame (as they say in the series) that you are going to get spoiled because of some hackers. The GoT producers are a multi million dollar operation, they can easily pay $250,000, for them that's just peanuts. HBO can afford $250,000 and avoid the disaster of any leaks.

[avilsd]

Even if they pay, the hackers might release which would only worsen the situation. Thanks for informing us about this, crazy! Don't want to see another article in the future that's updating this though that tarnishes BTC's reputation and causes people to associate it with crime

[BillyBobZorton]

Even if they pay, the hackers might release which would only worsen the situation. Thanks for informing us about this, crazy! Don't want to see another article in the future that's updating this though that tarnishes BTC's reputation and causes people to associate it with crime

Well, that is a given with ramsonwaring hackers. You are just assuming that they will be legit. It's a gamble where you are paying hoping to get what you want and then they stopping the treats.

The hackers wouldn't have enough time to keep raising the money because it's only 3 days until the episode airs afaik. If they try to raise the price in 3 days they would look ridiculous and HBO wouldn't pay anymore.

[New2coin]

I read an article that HBO was waiting to be verified on Poloniex 😂 I'm just glad I'm not the only one waiting to be verified!

Once again this just proves how illegal activity/ dark web runs bitcoin!!!

[Anarchist]

Sadly, paying hackers for it, is just encouraging hackers to hack more for bitcoin. Lile with Wannacry, a lot of people paid the amount needed, but in my opinion it is just encouraging others. If people don't pay then it will no more (or less) profitable for those hackers

[New2coin]

Sadly, paying hackers for it, is just encouraging hackers to hack more for bitcoin. Lile with Wannacry, a lot of people paid the amount needed, but in my opinion it is just encouraging others. If people don't pay then it will no more (or less) profitable for those hackers

Very true, Anarchist. I hate to compare it to this but it's similar to paying a terroist ransom for the release of someone. It will only benefit  the world of hackers.

[kafeelniazi]

Sadly, paying hackers for it, is just encouraging hackers to hack more for bitcoin. Lile with Wannacry, a lot of people paid the amount needed, but in my opinion it is just encouraging others. If people don't pay then it will no more (or less) profitable for those hackers

yes you are right it just encouraging hackers and make them rich in this way they are more powerful and they gathered other hackers and make a crew and start hacking and earn bitcoin, HBO should think about that because promoting hacking will cause trouble for them in future.

[Reid]

Why would they want to be paid in bitcoin? That is somehow fishy.
Are they using the name of bitcoin for bad purposes or are they doing it so that they could evade the tax when they got paid?
Hmmm.. There is really something about that which is not on the right way.
They could just say we want the hacker to pay $250,000 and that's it.

[doothewop]

Why would they want to be paid in bitcoin? That is somehow fishy.

It's how all these guys get paid nowadays. It's anonymous(ish), easily laundered,
and will only go up in price. There's no benefit to trying to get a briefcase full
of fiat from them, even if the bills are small and non-sequential. But send
them some BTC, they convert to Ethereum or Dash and cash out. Boom.
Or just sit on it. It's not like it's not going to be worth more eventually.

[Carlsen]

I think that this says more about the security standards of HBO than it tells about bitcon.
The company should be able to keep its scripts save until broadcasting.
If the thieves would not take a cryptocurrency as ransom, they would most likely put the scripts online somewhere and earn from the ads.

[Marculus]

Interesting news. May it be the reason behind the great bull run actually happening ? I do not think so, 250 000$ is a bit low, but maybe it started it ?

[The_Dark_Knight]

I don't know why HBO are wiling to pay that ransom since the script and even summary of the whole season 7 of this year's Game of Thrones has been leaked already, I was very much skeptical about the authenticity of the whole thing which was leaked way back in  2016 but now that the new season has started and so far the 4 episodes seem to correlate to the leaked script, I have no choice than to believe that it's all true.

There is a difference between a summary and the whole script, the summary can give to you a general idea of what it is going to happen but the script is the whole thing, when we consider how popular the series is and the production costs, then I think it is fair to say that amount of money is nothing to them.

[Kprawn]

It is a big thing.... and they are losing millions when this happens :

The worldwide hit series "Game of Thrones" delivered an incredible 16.1 million viewers for the highly anticipated kick-off to

its penultimate season across all HBO platforms (including repeats and streaming and DVR). 

If they can keep the script a secret, it would increase their revenue, so they will do anything to keep it away from the public. 



 

[Capradina]

The volatibility of bitcoin could suffer with this kind of news. It may suffer a loss because this news degrade  this currency.  Unfortunately bitcoin is a treasure for hackers to go unknown after receiving their ransom.

Well, it is if we look at all these things in mind on basic alone is certain that it is the right thing. But if you thought or looked at it in the right way already ascertained will get a lot of the very thing that does not match the bitcoin. Because the bitcoin, it is definitely going to give a lot of advantages for everyone in the world and if we want to strive as well as pray, already certain will provide something of a good thing. Hackers are indeed looking for the difficult gaps in see-through, but it does not mean that hackers have only bitcoin persons
 

[tleilaxu_eyes]

Hackers who stole data from HBO have leaked an email from a company executive showing negotiations over a ransom.
The HBO executive said the company would pay $250,000 in bitcoin as a "bug bounty payment."
Scripts from shows such as "Game of Thrones" were stolen last month.

Read the full article here:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/11/hbo-hack-game-of-thrones-ransom.html

I can't believe that they're actually willing to pay 250K in Bitcoin just to prevent the scripts from being released.
Even if the scripts were released, I doubt they would lose any fans over it. It's not like that many people would even read it.

Still sad that Bitcoin is being associated with crime again.

Agree - people want to view the drama, not read scripts. 

I wonder if the hackers stole other stuff besides the scripts? If so, that might be why they are paying up.

Unless of course, the TV show is ahead of the actual books (which people read), then people will want to read the scripts. In that case, HBO might be trying to avoid a lawsuit with Mr. Martin. I'
m not 100% on the details of their agreement.

[YTBitcoin]

Well that is just a bad publicity for bitcoin, hackers destroy everything... I hope they won't pay them, instead they can find them and sue them. Hacking is becoming more and more of a problem , the sentences  hacking should be much higher.

yes this problem is also fear us because of our accounts, people kept many bticoins in their wallets but only thin fear them is hackers. I think it’s a good move by HBO, because they are good at preventing their copy rights, it might reduce their fan following and decrease their income, well we don’t know much about media things so we better concern with our bitcoins.