Sony Pictures is still in clean-up mode following hacker attack

[Aerosol]

SONY PICTURES is still coming to terms with the hacker assault on its services, and is experiencing problems with its communications systems.

The firm has not yet responded to our requests for information, but its web server has. The email system has responded to two of our questions, the first saying that it was struggling to receive messages, and the second to alert us to "disruption" at its end.

"Our email system is currently experiencing a disruption. Please contact the person you wish to reach via phone," the reply said.

There is some good news for Sony, as the information referred to in the hack has not yet been released.

Sony lost control of its desktops, phone lines and perhaps a whack of data at the hands of a hacker and the Twitter tag #GOP on Monday.

Reports claim that the firm has been brought to its knees by a hacker who has threatened to release information that Sony Pictures would perhaps rather not have shared.

The company has admitted that it is looking into "an IT matter", but the screenshot being shown online (above) suggests that the hacker has serious intentions.

The message reads: 'Hacked By #GOP. Warning: We've already warned you, and this is just a beginning. We continue till our request be met.

'We've obtained all your internal data, including your secrets and top secrets. If you don't obey us, we'll release data shown below to the world. Determine what will you do till November the 24th, 11:00 PM (GMT).

'

Below the message is a collection of links claiming to be internal Sony Pictures information relating to something called SPED.

The meaning of SPED is unclear, but it suggests that the information does not relate to Sony's PlayStation, which comes under the SCEE banner internally.

GOP may stand for Guardians of Peace, but we have been unable to confirm this. We are downloading one of the ZIP files linked to on the original message.

A Sony Pictures spokesperson told the US Deadline website that something was going on, but said only:

"We are investigating an IT matter."

Anecdotal reports online say that Sony has reverted to pens and paper, and presumably bartering and raising livestock, as it comes to terms with a lack of access to Twitter.

A collection of movie type accounts have been plunged into the wilderness, and there is a lack of access to office basics like email.

The motive is currently unclear but the suggestion is that someone, maybe an ex-employee, has a grudge against Sony Pictures.

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