Sony Pictures’ network is compromised & reports claim employes are locked out, data is being held for ransom, Twitter & Google accounts compromised & that’s just the beginning.

Plus the DOJ claims iMessage will kill kids & our Kickstarter of the week!

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Hackers shut down Sony Pictures’ computers and are blackmailing the studio | The Verge

Since this afternoon, computers at the company have been completely unresponsive, showing a glowering CGI skeleton, a series of URL addresses, and a threatening message from a hacker group that identifies itself as #GOP. Dozens of Sony Twitter accounts were also commandeered to tweet out similar messages, although Sony seems to have regained control of those accounts. Early reports from Sony employees suggest the studio has yet to regain computer access.

The ZIP files mentioned in the images contain a list of filenames of a number of documents pertaining to financial records along with private keys for access to servers. The message shown on computers mentions “demands” that must be met by November 24th at 11:00PM GMT or the files named will be released.

A source within Sony has anonymously confirmed to TNW that the hack and image that have appeared on computers inside Sony Pictures is real. They said that “a single server was compromised and the attack was spread from there.”

In the meantime, the compromise seems to have brought day-to-day work at the studio to a crashing halt. Employees are reportedly unable to send email, use their computers, or even answer phones. As one employee told Deadline, “We are down, completely paralyzed.” In the official statement, Sony used more measure language: “We are investigating an IT matter.”

• I used to work for Sony Pictures. My friend still works there and sent me this. It’s on every computer all over Sony Pictures nationwide. : hacking

Updated: Hackers replace Sony’s backup app on Google Play — Tech News and Analysis

Sony’s Backup & Restore tool is a pretty straightforward app. It can back up device settings and data to a MicroSD card. It’s pre-installed on a lot of Sony phones, including the new Xperia Z3. But the version on Google Play for several hours on Monday said it was managed by “Nirak Patel Kanudo” and its reviews were terrible. The app description also included several typos.

iMessage encryption will kill kids, DOJ warns | Cult of Mac

The U.S. Department of Justice has issued a chilling warning to Apple executives as a response to increased privacy protections added to iOS 8: Children might die because we can’t hack into bad guys’ iMessages.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole met with Apple executives last month, reports the Wall Street Journal, to discuss privacy issues, but after making the ridiculous claim that the blood of dead children will be on Apple’s hands if it doesn’t give the NSA access to iMessages, the talks have ended in a standoff.

“The No. 2 official at the Justice Department delivered a blunt message last month to Apple Inc. executives: New encryption technology that renders locked iPhones impervious to law enforcement would lead to tragedy. A child would die, he said, because police wouldn’t be able to scour a suspect’s phone, according to people who attended the meeting.”

KICKSTARTER OF THE WEEK: 6thfinger: Keep games or apps active without human touch by Danny & Wayne — Kickstarter