Part of what got me into consulting was the fact that you have the ability to help others solve their most pressing issue(s). With that being said, I’ve decided to get back into the business of doing QA sessions at least once a month. So let’s get started!
While there were several notable cyber attacks that took place in 2014, the one that immediately comes to mind was the Sony hack which occurred on November 14th, 2014. This attack saw the loss of emails records, sensitive employee information such as phone numbers and salary as well as corporate data such as unreleased films. The attack even impacted the family members of the employees as some of their information was also released. While email retention policies really haven’t changed due to the hack, the hack ultimately caused organizations around the world to reevaluate their security posture. Additionally, many organizations established rules that it’s against policy to send work related emails to the employees non work email address.
The group that was responsible for this attack is known as the “Guardians of Peace” and released the aforementioned data as they were upset with Sony’s decision to release the interview, a comedy that is about a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, the leader of North Korea. What makes this cyber attack even more frightening is that the Guardians of Peace also threatened terrorist attacks against the theaters that opted to show the film. After an investigation by the U.S intelligence community which involved dissecting the software, network,and tactics employed in the Sony hack, the U.S intelligence community concluded that the attack was sanctioned by the government of North Korea.
It’s also worth noting that in December of 2014, Sony requested that the media stop covering the hack and even threatened to sue the media (with a lot of focus on Twitter) if the coverage of the hack continued.
Sources:
Sony Lawyer Threatens Twitter With Lawsuit Over Hacking Tweets
Can Sony Sue Media Outlets who Publish the Stolen Sony Documents?