The Bureau is expected to make an announcement today
Who are the hackers that have made Sony's life so difficult this past month? Is it North Korea? Since they leaked an enormous amount of humiliating and sensitive company information, people have speculated that so-called Guardians of Peace are actually agents of the Hermit Kingdom.
Unnamed senior administration sources have told the New York Times that North Korea is believed to be "centrally involved" in the hack. The FBI is reportedly due to make an announcement as soon as this afternoon confirming this. North Korean officials previously labelled Sony film The Interview "an act of war", though the Bureau previously stated that the country was not to blame.
The cyberattacks have been a source of huge embarrassment for Sony. Private emails, information about unreleased films and less-than-polite correspondences between top executives attacking Barack Obama and Angelina Jolie have all been leaked.
The hackers threatened a 9/11 style attack on any cinema showing The Interview, leading many cinema chains to drop the show from its schedules. Last night, Sony cancelled the theatrical release of the film entirely, sparking outrage from members of Hollywood's elite.
Really hard to believe this is the response to a threat to freedom of expression here in America. #TheInterview
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) December 18, 2014
I think it is disgraceful that these theaters are not showing The Interview. Will they pull any movie that gets an anonymous threat now?
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) December 17, 2014
Sony is a disgrace. Sickening.
— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) December 18, 2014
Bernadette Meehan, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said: "The government is considering a range of options in weighing a potential response."
Others remain skeptical about North Korea's involvement, including WIRED and cybersecurity bloggers like Marc Rogers.
"Everyone seems to be eager to pin the blame for the Sony hack on North Korea. However, I think it’s unlikely," Rogers wrote in a blog. "Who do I think is behind this? My money is on a disgruntled (possibly ex) employee of Sony."
Our money's on James Franco taking a PR stunt way too far.