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Sony Had Evidence of Server Hack in February According to New Leaked Emails

Sony’s VP of content protection flagged a compromised server almost a year ago

| December 11, 2014 @ 7:03 PM
Sony Pictures

A new round of leaked Sony emails revealed executives have been aware of a security breach in the company’s systems since February.

Communications obtained by Gawker from Courtney Schaberg, the studio’s VP of content protection, detailed a compromised server.

“An SPE system may have been obtained by an unauthorized party, who then may have uploaded malware,” Schaberg wrote in an email dated February 12, 2014. Staffers addressed on the email, including Sony chief counsel Leah Weil, were told “the investigation is ongoing.”

Also read: Amy Pascal on Whether She's So Damaged She Can No Longer Lead Sony (Exclusive)

Schaberg followed up her note with confirmation that server data was indeed taken — from SpiritWORLD, a third party company subcontracted by Sony to store innumerable documents relating to finance, distribution and more.

Sony has not yet responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, Thursday saw a barrage of new developments and damage control in relation to the hack. First, studio chief Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin issued apologies for mocking President Barack Obama in a racially-charged email chain about the President’s possible favorite movies.

Shortly thereafter, actor Kevin Hart blasted the studio for labeling him a “whore” in another email chain, for reportedly seeking additional compensation to promote one of his films on social media.

Most disturbing, a Bloomberg report said more than three dozen Sony employee and family medical records are contained in the leaked information.

In terms of the studios’ internal and FBI probes, an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap a new theory has been floating: if North Korea is involved in the breach, as has been speculated, the country had assistance from within the company.

Sony Hack Attack Timeline: From First Cyberbreach and Leaks to 'The Interview' Release (Photos)

  • Michael Lynton The Grill
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen, "The Interview"
  • James Franco, Seth Rogen
  • Amy Pascal and Michael Lynton
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony Pictures
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • "hacked by #GOP" message found on Sony computers
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Tom Hanks
  • Amy Pascal, Steve Mosko of Sony
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • Sony Marketing Layoffs
  • Sony Pictures
  • Movie posters for the premiere of the film 'The Interview' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles, California on December 11, 2014. The film, starring US actors Seth Rogen and James Franco, is a comedy about a CIA plot to assassinate its leader Kim Jong-Un, played by Randall Park. North Korea has vowed 'merciless retaliation' against what it calls a 'wanton act of terror' -- although it has denied involvement in a massive cyber attack on Sony Pictures, the studio behind the film. AFP PHOTO/STR (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
  • The Throwaways
  • Skyfall Daniel Craig James Bond 25
  • sony hack email nightmare
  • ArcLight Cinemas
  • Sony Chiefs Amy Pascal, Michael Lynton 'Deeply Saddened' Over Hacking Attack
  • Sony's logo on a wall
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • the interview hollywood tweets
  • Team America World Police
  • The Interview movie poster, Sony logo, President Obama
  • Mike Myers as Dr. Evil on "The Interview."
  • reince priebus chief of staff donald trump health care bill punt end zone football twitter
  • Sony attorney David Boies
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As Sony CEO Michael Lynton prepares to exit, here’s TheWrap’s blow-by-blow of 2014’s devastating cyberattack on the studio

As Sony CEO Michael Lynton announces his resignation, let's look back at one of the darkest periods of his tenure: the Sony hack. 

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