Free Republic

North Korea's Internet, 3G Mobile Network 'Paralyzed': Report North Korea's Internet and 3G mobile networks were paralyzed again on Saturday evening, China's official Xinhua news agency reported, with the North Korean government blaming the United States for systemic instability in the country's networks. Internet connectivity had not returned to normal as of 9:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET), Xinhua said, citing reporters in the country that had confirmed the situation over fixed telephone systems. Analysts at global Internet performance firm Dyn Research also reported that North Korea appeared to be suffering another countrywide online blackout. "This time, there wasn't...

Linguists identified foreign phrasing in about 2,000 words from hacker emails and posts that may have been penned by a Russian native speaker. Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Linguists identified foreign phrasing in about 2,000 words from hacker emails and posts that may have been penned by a Russian native speaker. What if it wasn’t North Korea after all? In the controversy over the Sony hacking, government officials have accused the sequestered communist country of hacking Sony, but security analysts argue Russian hackers may be the culprit. Writing samples from hackers claiming responsibility for leaking finance reports and emails by Sony employees suggest...

A number of private security researchers are increasingly voicing doubts that the hack of Sony‘s computer systems was the work of North Korea. President Obama and the F.B.I. last week accused North Korea of targeting Sony and pledged a “proportional response” just hours before North Korea’s Internet went dark without explanation. But security researchers remain skeptical, with some even likening the government’s claims to those of the Bush administration in the build-up to the Iraq war. Fueling their suspicions is the fact that the government based its findings, in large part, on evidence that it will not release, citing the...

The FBI and the President may claim that the Hermit Kingdom is to blame for the most high-profile network breach in forever. But almost all signs point in another direction. So, “The Interview” is to be released after all. The news that the satirical movie—which revolves around a plot to murder Kim Jong-Un—will have a Christmas Day release as planned, will prompt renewed scrutiny of whether, as the US authorities have officially claimed, the cyber attack on Sony really was the work of an elite group of North Korean government hackers. All the evidence leads me to believe that the...

Looking back at our popular culture in 2014, it appears that Hollywood's power is on the wane. Politically, the leftist celebrities and the "Rock the Vote" gang couldn't help dig the Democrats out of their rut. Even that paragon of permissiveness Sandra Fluke couldn't exploit her Limbaugh-victim aura to win a state Senate seat in libertine California. The year's biggest loser was Sony, which looked pathetically powerless in the wake of an alleged North Korea's hack attack. Worst yet were the people involved. A clearly frustrated George Clooney announced there was no one in that industry willing to sign a...

The FBI just last week confirmed what many Americans already assumed to be a forgone conclusion when they revealed there was conclusive evidence that North Korea´s government was behind the hacking of Sony, an attack the government bureau said was carried out as a way ´to inflict significant harm on a U.S. business and suppress the right of American citizens to express themselves.´ Then, in a press conference on Friday, President Obama not only attacked North Korea and leader Kim Jong-un for their attempts to ´intimidate´ Americans through their actions, but went so far as to warn the country that

he FBI last week announced that they had discovered conclusive evidence proving the North Korean government was behind the Sony hack President Obama then attacked the country for their behavior during a news conference, and informed them that the United States would retaliate Now, the findings of the FBI are being called into question by many of the cybersecurity industry's leading experts What's more, after an independent investigation, Norse has determined that they believe a woman named 'Lena' is responsible for the hack Almost every expert stated that they believe the hack had to have been an inside job

DVD copies of Team America: World Police have sold out on Amazon and Walmart following the controversy surrounding fellow North Korean parody The Interview. The 2004 comedy, by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, uses a cast of puppets to poke fun at former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and a host of Hollywood celebrities. The movie has now become a hit again - following Sony's cancelled and reinstated release of The Interview, a film based on an assassination plot of current North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

North Korea: No ‘physical reaction’ to new film By Associated Press December 24 at 5:21 PM UNITED NATIONS — North Korea says it likely will have no “physical reaction,” just condemnation, to the release of the comedy film “The Interview,” which depicts the assassination of leader Kim Jong Un. A North Korea diplomat to the United Nations told The Associated Press on Wednesday that his country opposes the film’s release online and in over 300 U.S. theaters this week.

A bit of Hollywood history unfolded on Wednesday. And it might be a glimpse into the future. The controversial Sony Pictures comedy "The Interview" was released on YouTube, Google Play, the Microsoft Xbox video game console, and a special Web site. The movie, which started streaming online around 1 p.m. ET, costs $5.99 to rent and $14.99 to buy. So it is having historic simultaneous release in both living rooms and, come Christmas Day, about 300 independently-owned theaters across the United States.

**SNIP** After mentioning the Sony emails and telling his listeners who Elba is, Limbaugh said, “Here’s the thing, though… James Bond is a fictional character, obviously. James Bond was invented, created by Ian Fleming… and James Bond is… white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is.” “But now Sony is suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton rather than a white from Scotland,” continued Limbaugh. “But that’s NOT who James Bond is, and I know it’s racist to probably even point this out… We had 50 years of white Bonds because Bond...

VICTORY!!!!!!! The PEOPLE and THE PRESIDENT have spoken!!! SONY to release THE INTERVIEW in theaters…

‘The Interview’ Release: More Than 300 Theaters Aboard As Deadline Passes by Lisa de Moraes and Nellie Andreeva December 23, 2014 6:14pm 2ND UPDATE. 6:22 PM: Sony Pictures’ president of Worldwide Distribution Rory Bruer tonight told Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr that more than 300 theaters lined up to screen The Interview. That total includes most major cities — New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Cleveland, Phoenix and Dallas among them — and more theaters than anyone expected considering the late notice and the fact Sony is finalizing plans to simultaneously release The Interview via a VOD/streaming strategy. 'The Interview' Release: Who's...

The North Korea comedy film that had its Christmas Day launch cancelled after a major cyber attack and threats against US cinema-goers is now to get a limited theatrical release, Sony says. The Interview will be shown in some independent US cinemas on Thursday. Sony Chairman Michael Lynton said he was "excited" that the comedy, about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, would now be seen. Two cinemas in Atlanta and Austin have already revealed screenings. They said via social media that Sony Pictures had authorised them to show the film, which has been at the centre...

North Korea Internet hit by 2 more outages Doug Stanglin and Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY 2:07 p.m. EST December 23, 2014 North Korea's Internet service, which was out for almost 10 hours on Monday, went down two more times on Tuesday, including a 31-minute stretch, according to Dyn Research. The Manchester, N.H., company that tracks internet traffic and performance said "connectivity problems continue." The initial instability emerged Sunday followed by the full shutdown for nine and and a half hours on Monday. The two outages onTuesday included one that lasted from10:41 a.m. ET to 11:12 a.m.ET.

Good news. I wonder what changed their minds. The plan is to release the film simultaneously in participating theaters and via video on demand. The Plaza theater in Atlanta and a theater in Austin have now said they will distribute the film…A plan to distribute “The Interview” over Dish Network fell apart after talks between Sony and the satellite TV provider broke down over the weekend.The exact list of distributors was not immediately available, but the Art House Convergence, a national coalition of smaller, independent movie theaters, on Monday told Sony Pictures that its members are also willing and...

Several movie theaters said they will begin showing “The Interview” Thursday, seemingly putting the comedy back in theaters after Sony Pictures Entertainment canceled its release. The Alamo Drafthouse in Texas said on Tuesday that Sony has authorized it to screen the film starting Christmas Day. Atlanta’s Plaza Theater also said it will show the film.

After a national clamor to release the film despite threats, Sony finds a way to get the comedy out there Sony Pictures is set to release the canceled Seth Rogen comedy “The Interview” in theaters and on video on demand, TheWrap has learned. The plan is to release the film simultaneously in participating theaters and via video on demand. The Plaza theater in Atlanta and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin have now said they will distribute the film. The studio is expected to announce the planned release on Tuesday, according to an individual with knowledge of the studio’s plans.

Following cinema chains across the US pulling Sony Pictures' The Interview, the California-based firm is now considering ways in which the controversial film can be shown online. Sites such as YouTube, Netflix and Crackle are among the options currently being discussed to make sure the film gets distributed. During an interview with CNN, Sony Entertainment boss Michael Lynton said the movie will be released, but it just needs to work out the best way of doing so.

North Korea's Internet still spotty By Dana Ford, CNN December 23, 2014 -- Updated 1037 GMT (1837 HKT) (CNN) -- [Breaking news update, posed at 535 a.m. ET] Internet service in North Korea is still intermittent, Dyn Research, a company that monitors Internet performance, announced on Twitter Tuesday morning. Service went down completely for about nine hours earlier, Dyn Research said.