Hacktivist group leaks Disney's internal data, reveals unreleased projects - WSJ

Investing.com - 'Hacktivist' group Nullbulge has obtained data from Disney 's internal Slack collaboration system, according to files reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

The group behind the leak, stated in a blog post that it had released data from thousands of Slack channels within the entertainment company. The data included computer code and details about projects that have yet to be announced. Slack is commonly used within large corporations for group discussions about strategic initiatives.

The veracity of the group's claims regarding the extent of the documents taken and the way they were obtained could not be confirmed immediately.

The leaked material, as per the Journal, consists of conversations about maintaining Disney’s corporate website, software development, assessments of job candidates, initiatives for emerging leaders within ESPN, and even photos of employees' dogs, with data dating back to at least 2019.

A representative for Disney confirmed that the company is looking into the matter.

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The hacking group recently posted screenshots of documents online that it claimed to have obtained from Disney's (NYSE:DIS) Slack channels. These alleged documents included excerpts of project descriptions and plans, as well as visit, booking, and revenue data from Disneyland Paris.

Nullbulge identifies itself as a hacktivist group advocating for artist rights and selects its targets based on specific social, economic, or political values. According to a spokesperson for the group, Disney was targeted due to its handling of artist contracts, its approach to AI, and its alleged disregard for consumers.

The release of the data was motivated by the belief that making demands of Disney would be futile, the spokesperson added.

Nullbulge first claimed to have accessed Disney's computer systems in May, according to Eric Parker, a security researcher. Parker suspects that the group is actually a single individual seeking attention.

The group reportedly accessed the information through a Disney software development manager, whose computer they compromised twice. The group has previously stolen personal information and online credentials, which they then published online, including the private information of the Disney employee in question.

The public disclosure of a company's internal messages, code, and documents can cause significant disruption to a company and potentially undermine its commercial objectives.