Even famous celebrities via iCloud hack dubbed by many as Celebgate or big multinational companies via Sony hack fell prey to the ever so relentless online debilitating attacks by unscrupulous hackers. Such hacks only show the vulnerabilities of the internet heralding a new wave of hacking that has the potential of wreaking havoc on private lives or on bigger entities such as governments and banks, society as a whole by unknown and largely untraceable entities.
What is disturbing is that the perpetrators of the Sony hack were never found even when fingers have been pointed at North Korean leaders. Also, recent revelations show an even nastier truth: software that damaged Sony Entertainment is available online for a few thousand dollars.
The Nightmare
It sure is a horrible thing. Imagine yourself in the shoes of a Jennifer Lawrence or a Kate Upton who one day finds all those pictures that you've cherished for your own private viewing is exposed for everybody to see.
All because you had faith in cloud storage. Though Apple has since denied any major lapses on its architecture and its iCloud, the cyber attack still shows the danger lurking online.
Even more destructive is the Sony hack. Its effect crippled the media giant like it was some helpless baby.
Exposing pertinent details - from names to birthdays and social security numbers - of 3,803 Sony Pictures employees including the company's top execs, the company froze in fear as detailed by Vanity Fair.
Employees were hapless as one by one their lives were disrupted. One reported her credit card being accessed while others fear for their lives.
Worst Case Scenario
Fearing the worst, Sony Entertainment had to give in and acceded to the hacker's demands which this time was that The Interview, a film centering on North Korea, be stopped from being its initial release to the public.
Or in their own chilling words: "Stop immediately showing the movie of terrorism which can break the regional peace and cause the War! You, SONY & FBI, cannot find us. We are perfect as much [sic]."
Because of the attack Sony seemed thrown back to the pre-digital age and its employees had to rely on phones to communicate as data was not only been stolen it has been wiped out.
All told there were eight leaks with an estimated 38 million files stolen.
President Obama had a different take on the matter saying," "I think they made a mistake," said Obama. "I wish they had spoken to me first. I would have told them, Do not get into a pattern in which you're intimidated by these kinds of criminal attacks."
It may hold some truth but the damage has been done.
What is even more disturbing now is the aftermath. The Sony hack has set a dangerous precedent.
Already, Businessinsider reports that for takers the software used on the Sony hack is available online for a price of $30,000.
Or as Jon Miller, VP of strategy at Cylance - an antivirus company, "There are probably a couple thousand, three, four, five-thousand people that could do [the Sony] attack today,"
Sounds like iCloud and Sony hackings reveal great business.
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