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The Latest: Hackers post ‘Game of Thrones’ files from HBO

CORRECTS AIR DATE TO AUG 6 - This image released by HBO shows Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in an episode of "Game of Thrones," which aired Sunday, Aug. 6. An individual using the name "Mr. Smith" posted a fresh cache of stolen HBO files, including some apparently related to the show "Game of Thrones," online Monday, part of what the purported hacker has claimed is a much larger trove of stolen HBO material. The dump includes scripts from five "Game of Thrones" episodes, including one upcoming episode, and a month's worth of email from the account of an HBO programming executive. (Macall B. Polay/HBO via AP) CORRECTS AIR DATE TO AUG 6 - This image released by HBO shows Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister in an episode of "Game of Thrones," which aired Sunday, Aug. 6. An individual using the name "Mr. Smith" posted a fresh cache of stolen HBO files, including some apparently related to the show "Game of Thrones," online Monday, part of what the purported hacker has claimed is a much larger trove of stolen HBO material. The dump includes scripts from five "Game of Thrones" episodes, including one upcoming episode, and a month's worth of email from the account of an HBO programming executive. (Macall B. Polay/HBO via AP)

By Associated Press August 7, 2017 2 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – The Latest on the HBO files posted online by hackers (all times local):

8 p.m.

The purported HBO hackers are demanding that HBO pay a ransom of several million dollars to prevent further releases of confidential files and program-related material.

In a video directed to HBO CEO Richard Plepler, the hackers – who use the pseudonym “Mr. Smith” – used white text on a black background to threaten further disclosures if HBO doesn’t pay up. To stop the leaks, the purported hackers demanded “our 6 month salary in bitcoin,” which they implied is at least $6 million.

This is the second HBO-related data dump from the purported hackers. So far the HBO leaks have been limited, falling well short of the chaos inflicted on Sony in 2014. In that attack, hackers unearthed thousands of embarrassing emails and released personal information, including salaries and social security numbers, of nearly 50,000 current and former Sony employees.