November 14, 2024 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

FBI accuses North Korea of being behind Sony cyberattack

The FBI today accused North Korea of being behind the cyberattack that prompted Sony Pictures to cancel the release of “The Interview,” a development raising fears among entertainers that the free speech rights of Americans are threatened.

“As a result of our investigation, and in close cooperation with other U.S. government departments and agencies, the FBI now has enough information to conclude that the North Korean government is responsible for these actions,” according to an FBI statement.

Before the statement was issued, actor George Clooney said he and his agent circulated a petition in support of Sony after it became the victim of a the cyberattack and before it cancelled the Christmas Day release of “The Interview,” but none of the many entertainment figures who were asked to sign it agreed to do so.

Speaking to Deadline Hollywood in an interview published online, Clooney said the way his petition was received shows how scared the industry has become.

“This is just where we are right now, how scared this industry has been made,” Clooney said in a ‘Deadline Hollywood interview published online. “Quite honestly, this would happen in any industry.”

The thrust of the petition circulated by Clooney and his agent, Bryan Lourd, was “we’re not going to give in to a ransom,” Clooney said.

The petition said in part:

“… We fully support Sony’s decision not to submit to these hackers’ demands. We know that to give in to these criminals now will open the door for any group that would threaten freedom of expression, privacy and personal liberty. We hope these hackers are brought to justice but until they are, we will not stand in fear. We will stand together.”

As have other celebrities, Clooney said the news media focused inordinately on the embarrassing emails the hackers uncovered, including from Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chair Amy Pascal, instead of the threats to American freedoms.

“A good portion of the press abdicated its real duty. They played the fiddle while Rome burned. There was a real story going on. With just a little bit of work, you could have found out that it wasn’t just probably North Korea; it was North Korea,” he said.

The FBI, in effectively confirming Clooney’s assertion, said it found telltale signs in the cyberattack.

“The FBI has determined that the intrusion into (Sony Pictures Entertainment’s) network consisted of the deployment of destructive malware and the theft of proprietary information, as well as employees’ personally identifiable information and confidential communications …” the FBI statement said.

“Technical analysis of the data deletion malware used in this attack revealed links to other malware that the FBI knows North Korean actors previously developed.”

Related Posts

Thanksgiving Feasts and Pies and Other Fall Delights: Pre-Order Now at LA’s Top Spots

November 14, 2024

November 14, 2024

Gourmet Turkeys Sides, Holiday Pies, New Fall Cocktails For November on the Westside The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills has...

Actress Chanel Maya Banks Found in Texas, Family Disputes LAPD’s Closure of the Case

November 14, 2024

November 14, 2024

Family Questions Authenticity of Inflammatory Social Media Posts The events in the case of Chanel Maya Banks, the Playa Vista-based...

LA’s Food Access Farmers Markets Face Possible Closures, Call for Community Support

November 14, 2024

November 14, 2024

Nonprofit Seeks Monthly Donors To Continue to Offer Fresh Produce to the Underserved Food Access LA, the nonprofit organization behind...

SANTA MONICA HOTELS OFFER EXTRA BEDROOM PROGRAM FOR LOCALS WELCOMING VISITORS

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (November 11, 2024) – Santa Monica Travel & Tourism announces the return of the popular “I Wish...

(Video) What Parents Love about Vistamar’s Open House v1

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Why attend a Vistamar admissions open house? Parents talk about all that you can experience when you visit. At Open...

Rodeo Drive Lights Up for the Holidays with “Rodeo Nights, Holiday Lights” Celebration

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Beverly Hills Kicks off the Holiday Season This Week With Free Annual Event The Rodeo Drive Committee and the City...

Family Searches for Missing Actress Chanel Maya Banks; Asks For Public’s Help in West LA

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Relatives Search for Chanel Maya Banks, Last Heard From on October 30 The family of an actress based on the...

Court Halts Order for Expedited Veteran Housing in West LA, Citing VA’s Budget Constraints

November 13, 2024

November 13, 2024

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Criticizes the VA on Veterans Day The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily paused an...

Metro’s New Bus Lane Camera Enforcement Aims to Speed Up Commutes for LA Riders

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Pilot Program Begins With 60-Day Warning Period to Clear Bus Lanes The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), in...

Legendary Actor Tony Todd, Known for Iconic Horror Roles, Dies at the Age of 69

November 12, 2024

November 12, 2024

Star of Candyman and Final Destination Remembered by Fans and Peers Iconic actor and Marina del Rey resident Tony Todd...

LAUSD Teacher Charged with Sexual Assault on a Minor, Police Believe There May Be Other Victims

November 11, 2024

November 11, 2024

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced on November 8 that a middle school teacher, Colleen Jo Matarico, is...

Baby2Baby Gala Raises Record $17 Million to Support Families in Need

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Event Honors Charlize Theron at the Pacific Design Center The Baby2Baby nonprofit organization held its annual gala on Saturday, Nov....

Beverly Hills High Limits Student Gatherings After Pro-Trump Rally Disrupts Campus

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Principal Cites Safety Concerns Following Post-Election Demonstration Beverly Hills High School has put limits on student gatherings after a pro-Trump...

Racist Text Messages Target Students in Santa Monica, West LA, Raising Alarm Among Schools, Families

November 10, 2024

November 10, 2024

Outrage Spreads as Disturbing, Racially Charged Messages Reach Students and Others By Dolores Quintana Schools on the Westside of Los...

Governor Newsom Convenes Special Session to Protect California Rights Against Future Federal Policies

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Special Session Called To Defend Civil Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Climate Initiatives Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special session of...