HBO was hacked, 1.5 terabyte have been put online, incl new episodes and GoT script

[Len]

Hacking is bad. But... some "Game of Thrones" fans are constitutionally unable to *not* look at leaks and spoilers, so if GoT intel is out there, it will be dug up like dragonglass.

HBO was recently hacked, Entertainment Weekly reports, with the hackers claiming to nab 1.5 terabytes of data. Upcoming episodes of "Ballers" and new series "Room 104" have been put online, EW claims, and "There is also written material that's allegedly from next week's fourth episode of Game of Thrones. More is promised to be "'coming soon.'"

A few reporters got an anonymous email Sunday previewing the hack. This morning, HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler confirmed the breach in an email to HBO employees (via EW):

"'As most of you have probably heard by now, there has been a cyber incident directed at the company which has resulted in some stolen proprietary information, including some of our programming. Any intrusion of this nature is obviously disruptive, unsettling, and disturbing for all of us. I can assure you that senior leadership and our extraordinary technology team, along with outside experts, are working round the clock to protect our collective interests. The efforts across multiple departments have been nothing short of herculean. It is a textbook example of quintessential HBO teamwork. The problem before us is unfortunately all too familiar in the world we now find ourselves a part of. As has been the case with any challenge we have ever faced, I have absolutely no doubt that we will navigate our way through this successfully."

"Game of Thrones" Season 7 isn't a stranger to leaks, since an entire rundown of the season was leaked months in advance. Based on the season so far, those leaks were accurate, which means they have a bigger problem on their hands than cyber hacks -- they have a mole leaking intel from production. It's probably Littlefinger, or maybe Lady Olenna, but there's nothing you can do about her now.

Seriously, though, "Game of Thrones" is a sieve. It's the most pirated show on TV every year. And in Season 5, the first four episodes leaked online in advance, based off the press screening DVDs sent out before the premiere. HBO doesn't send those out anymore, but it's clear leaks and spoilers are still getting out.

Those spoilers may anger HBO and the showrunners, but they haven't hurt "Game of Thrones" in the ratings. Far from it. Season 7 continues this Sunday with Episode 4.