Game of Thrones - Hackers fire warning at HBO after ‘Spoils of War’ leaks online

[Len]

GAME of Thrones Season 7 Episode 4 “The Spoils Of War” was leaked online ahead of its release date today, and hackers have more bad news for HBO.

Game Of Thrones season 7 episode 4, entitled “The Spoils of War”, leaked online last Friday with a Google Drive link widely circulated.

Links to the stream were posted on online message board Reddit, with the leaked episode also available via torrents and video hosting site PutLocker.

HBO were quick to remove streams of Game of Thrones season 7 episode 4, with an entire Reddit threat that offered “Spoils of War” links taken down.

Those who tried to access it were greeted with this message from Google: "We're sorry. You can't access this item because it is in violation of our Terms of Service." 

The leaking of the Game of Thrones episode, ahead of its airing in the US on Sunday, came after HBO allegedly had 1.5 terabytes of data stolen by hackers.

Episodes from a number of the studio’s series were published as well as the script for “Spoils of War” last Monday, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Sources inside HBO have said the leaking of the latest GoT episode on Friday was not related to the hack, and was instead a breach at Star India.

The Fox owned company, who air Game of Thrones in India, have taken responsibility for the breach.

They said they were taken action "to swiftly determine the cause" of the leak.

But that has not stopped hackers from the HBO hack fire a warning at the Game of Thrones studio.

An e-mail allegedly from the hackers which was sent to The Hollywood Reporter warned data from the leak would be released soon.

They said it had been delayed “because of some new buyers”.

Sent to The Hollywood Reporter, it said: "Some of HBO's top competitors are negotiating with us for buying the dump. 

“The deal are near to close. Poor HBO never rise again."

In the aftermath of the hack, the script for Game of Thrones “Spoils of War” started circulating online and unaired episodes of Ballers and Room 104.

Speculation has also been mounting that the hackers have other unaired episodes in their possessions.

Bloomberg reported that upcoming episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm were in the hackers’ hands.

If hackers do have full or partial unaired episodes of Game of Thrones, it would cause a major headache for HBO.

But what will be of more concern is the possibility of stolen documents and e-mails.

In a statement about the hack, HBO said: “HBO recently experienced a cyber incident, which resulted in the compromise of proprietary information.

“We immediately began investigating the incident and are working with law enforcement and outside cybersecurity firms.

“Data protection is a top priority at HBO, and we take seriously our responsibility to protect the data we hold.”

HBO chairman and CEO Richard Plepler also last week sent an email to employees, alerting them about the breach.

He wrote: “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 episode 4 “The Spoils of War” is now available to stream officially, as it aired on Sunday in America.

It was also simulcast on Sky Atlantic at 2am today.

The latest Game of Thrones episode is available to stream on Now TV currently, if you subscribe to the Entertainment Pass.

This currently costs £6.99 per month, but will rise to £7.99 per month after August 15.

In the US, Game of Thrones season 7 episode 4 can be streamed on HBO Go.

HBO have been hit by leaked Game of Thrones episodes in the past.

Back in 2015, the first four episodes of season 5 were shared online ahead of the broadcast date.

Despite this, the season 5 premiere hit, at the time, record viewing figures for the show.