BlackLock: "We Hacked the Creators of Godzilla!" Studio: "Nope, Guys, You Just Copied Thin Air"
The legendary Japanese film studio Toho, which recently won an Oscar for visual effects in Godzilla Minus One, found itself at the center of a scandal. On a darknet forum where hackers often post details of their targets, a message surfaced claiming a breach of the famed studio's corporate network.
The group behind the incident, BlackLock, boasted about infiltrating the media giant's systems. These digital raiders first emerged in early 2024 and have since escalated their criminal activities, leaving a trail of compromised organizations in their wake.
However, experts are highly skeptical of the hackers' claims. An independent investigation revealed the hollowness of their boasts—most of the leaked links allegedly containing stolen data were dead, and the few accessible files contained nothing but meaningless junk.
Notably, the supposed attack came at the peak of Toho's success. The studio, a leader in Japan's film industry, boasts an impressive legacy, including classics like Seven Samurai, The Hidden Fortress, and King Kong vs. Godzilla. With over 3,600 employees and a 2024 revenue exceeding $2 billion, Toho remains a powerhouse in global cinema.
BlackLock’s activity stats are staggering: by the end of 2024, the group ranked 7th among the most active ransomware operators, with a 1,425% surge in attacks in Q4 compared to the previous quarter. Over the past year, at least 63 companies fell victim to their schemes.
In an ironic twist, cybersecurity experts from Resecurity recently uncovered a critical flaw in BlackLock’s own infrastructure, exposing the hackers' vulnerabilities.
Toho’s representatives have yet to comment on the situation. Journalists have reached out to the studio’s press service for clarification on the alleged data breach. Updates will follow once an official response is received.
