A Hacker Is Holding Season 5 of Orange Is the New Black for Ransom
By Emma Stefansky. Photos: Courtesy of Netflix, Twitter.
Netflix may hoard its user data jealously and refuse to release streaming numbers to the general public, but the company’s vast wealth is no secret. Now, an enterprising (and thieving) hacking operation is trying to extract some of that cash.
The group of hackers, who operate under the alias The Dark Overlord, have reportedly purloined the fifth season of Netflix’s hit show, Orange Is the New Black, and are demanding that Netflix pay an unspecified ransom to keep the entire season from being leaked online. One episode has already been leaked, according to the Associated Press (via The Hollywood Reporter), but AP and Netflix haven’t been able to confirm that file’s authenticity. On Saturday, the hackers tweeted a link to a downloadable torrent file that they described as “the remainder” of the season, as well as a dramatic press release.
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Netflix has confirmed that the security of a small production vendor tied to their site was breached, and described the case as an “active situation” that is under FBI investigation. A leak of this scale could certainly harm Netflix’s binge-watching around the season, and, more troubling for the company, new sign-ups related to interest in the show. The new season is scheduled to drop on June 9, which is only a little more than a month away.
Late Friday night, a Twitter account purporting to be used by The Dark Overlord account posted a new threat: Netflix isn’t the only network under attack. “Who is next on the list? FOX, IFC, NAT GEO, and ABC. Oh, what fun we're all going to have. We're not playing any games anymore.”
At least Mr. Robot is on USA.
This story originally appeared on Vanity Fair.
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