‘OITNB’ Season 5 Just Got Leaked By A Hacker Trying To Shake Down Netflix

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Published

April 29, 2017

Wowww okay this is wild: it looks like someone – I’m going to call them a hacker even though it makes me feel like we’re back in Angelina Jolie‘s 1995 – it looks like a hacker has got their hands on ten episodes of the new season of Orange Is The New Black, and used them to try to extort money from Netflix.

Obviously it didn’t work, because those ten episodes have now been leaked to the Pirate Bay.

The hacker in question, someone (or someones??) called thedarkoverlord, has released a public statement regarding the leak that suggests that they’re in possession of content from a number of other production companies, including ABC, Fox and National Geographic.

Who is next on the list? FOX, IFC, NAT GEO, and ABC. Oh, what fun we’re all going to have. We’re not playing any games anymore.

— thedarkoverlord (@tdohack3r) April 29, 2017

According to Engadget, a breach at a third-party studio called Larson Studios is the source of the OITNB episodes. Netflix has released a statement addressing the situation, saying in part:

“We are aware of the situation. A production vendor used by several major TV studios had its security compromised and the appropriate law enforcement authorities are involved.”

Engadget also reports that Larson Studios agreed to pay ransom for the material but didn’t come through with the goods. Now we’re seeing the fallout.

OITNB consistently pulls Netflix’s highest viewing numbers, and Season 5 wasn’t scheduled for release until June – this is a massive spanner in the works. And considering that apparently rumours have been circulating online for several months about a huge Hollywood film and TV leak, there could be a lot more spanners where that came from.

Meanwhile, this hacker has a Twitter account from which they’re distributing press releases – this is well over the line into cartoon villain territory, and to be honest, it’s kind of incredible.