GUEST EDITORIAL: The Impact of Data Breaches and Cyber Attacks on the Film Industry

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The Impact of Data Breaches and Cyber Attacks on the Film Industry

by Kevin Gardner

Online attacks have become more and more common for companies that operate in the movie industry in recent years. Though new technology has come about in order to improve the way data is protected, each stride forward creates new gaps in existing infrastructure. This means that a film studio needs to always stay mindful of the various threats that are appearing. Failing to do this could leave them open to a number of preventable data issues. Since protecting a company’s assets is definitely a top priority, it is important to take time to devise a sensible strategy.

Data is a vital asset to any business, especially those that handle large productions in the film industry. Exploring the different ways hackers attempt to steal and use this data can highlight the need for enhanced security on digital fronts.  

Common Data Breaches

From the inception of an idea to marketing efforts related to promoting a project, data helps keep a film production afloat. Film companies obtain this data in a number of different ways, meaning  it is most important for these businesses to take time to think about how this data is protected and stored. In recent years, data breaches have caused massive, widespread issues for organizations in Hollywood and beyond. To reduce the odds of this happening, it is important to put a plan into place for protecting sensitive information.

Those in charge of a film production must make sure data is never stolen or intercepted in the first place. Whether the data is related to the salaries of different actors on a production or the information pertains to what moviegoers want to see from a studio, information leaked to the public can cause major backlash. To avoid this, companies are now going to extremes in order to ensure the data in their possession never gets into the wrong hands.  

Spoofing and Other Fraud Attacks

Most consumers understand the common threat of fraud. The internet has dramatically increased the odds of fraud happening, but it isn’t only individual consumers who need to be concerned. Even large businesses in the film industry are likely to experience fraud on a major level. With consumer fraud, the threat exists in the fact that the culprit can use a person’s personal data to steal finances, open fake credit cards, and more. For a business, fraud comes in the form of tricking customers.

One common type of crime that companies encounter with fraud is a spoofing attack. Just as a spoof movie imitates a particular genre, so does this attack follow a path of mimicry. Essentially, spoofing is when a fraudulent company creates web assets that are meant to mimic the appearance of a particular brand. A consumer, not paying attention to any obvious red flags, will patronize the site and assume he or she is dealing with the actual brand. Unfortunately, this is not the case and all the information that the customer enters into the site is then stolen.

Executive Extortion

Another common problem that business owners in the film industry experience when it comes to cybercrime is extortion. When someone gets a script or bit of data, this individual can threaten to leak it to the public unless their demands are met. While it might seem like the plot of a movie in and of itself, it is a very real problem that film companies must deal with on a regular basis. Thankfully, there are also many ways to make sure that this never comes to pass.

From extortion to theft to fraud, there are all kinds of problems that a film company can experience thanks to online security gaps. While a vital resource in marketing films, the internet can easily become a huge concern. Failing to take certain threats to heart can leave a production open to a world of serious and expensive problems. As long as companies operating in this industry take time to make sure their security measures reflect the actual risks appearing on digital fronts, it will be easier for sensitive data to stay where it belongs.