US prosecutors have charged an Iranian national with hacking into cable TV network HBO and stealing episodes and plot summaries for unaired programs including Game of Thrones, then threatening to release the data unless he was paid US$6 million (NZ$8.7 million).
Behzad Mesri, also known as Skote Vahshat, was charged with the hack in a sealed indictment that was released on Tuesday by the US Attorney's office in Manhattan.
Acting US Attorney Joon Kim said at a news conference that Mesri was in Iran. He said Mesri would face consequences even though US authorities could not immediately arrest him.
"He will never be able to travel outside of Iran without fear of being arrested and brought here," Mr Kim said.
Prosecutors said Mesri had worked on behalf of Iran's military to attack military systems, nuclear software systems and Israeli infrastructure.
They also alleged that he helped an Iranian hacking group, Turk Black Hat Security Team, deface hundreds of websites in the United States and other countries.
The cyber attack surfaced over the summer as HBO was running a new season of Game of Thrones, and as the cable network's parent Time Warner Inc sought regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc in an US$85.4 billion deal announced in October 2016.
The indictment charged Mesri with hacking into HBO from May to August and stealing unaired episodes of programs such as Ballers, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Deuce.
Mesri also stole scripts and plot summaries for Game of Thrones, according to the indictment.
He demanded up to US$6 million in extortion emails to HBO staff to keep the data secret, some of which ended with photos of Night King, a menacing zombie villain from Game of Thrones, according to the indictment.
Reuters
