I argued here that it may be NK: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8765292 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8765292 But I don't think I can agree with y

I argued here that it may be NK: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8765292 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8765292 But I don't think I can agree with your comment. Whether the group in question is new or has a new moniker I don't think says anything about whether NK was behind this. Because of the strange evolution of the case (first demanding ransom) it's pretty clear that the identities of the hackers have looked to be different groups with different goals. There is either collusion or there is a false flag: A.) #GOP is a false flag operation for NK state controlled or sponsored attacks (this has been done before by other states - e.g. SEA) B.) NK is a false flag used by #GOP for lulz or to confuse law enforcement/forensics (this has been done before by other hackers - e.g. Gary McKinnon) C.) There is a real group #GOP active in the East (why we haven't heard of them) who either hacked Sony in isolation and then got NK support or was encouraged but not propositioned by NK to perform the compromise in the first place My bets are currently on C, as the objective of the hack changed a week after ransom was not provided and because from what I can tell the tools that are purported to be state sponsored only appeared some time after the initial compromise and along with the change in demands. Many good questions are raised by critics of the FBI's published evidence. That isn't outrage politics. I don't think that "from a rational perspective... obviously points to NK" - and I think you would have a lot of difficulty defending the case that you are the one with the access to the 'rational perspective'. (It's sophistry to speak in terms of authority like that, without providing an argument that stands on its own...) Re: troops in Crimea. It most certainly was some of Putin's troops in support of East Ukrainian separatists. What isn't seen is the 'pro-West' (?) side admitting to the equivalent - NATO troops and supplies supporting West Ukrainian separatists. Or the conversation include the discussions about the European presence at the protests and riots, the aggressive financial deal that the EU knew could/would split the country, EU membership offer, and leaked audio plans to 'select' a pro-West Ukrainian presidential candidate. Russia isn't innocent and neither is the West. Neither is China for that matter. (This is realpolitik, we don't have the luxury of innocence.) I'm glad you mention the fact that there is a global cyberwar. The types of operations seen in the global cyberwar thus far are for the most part very different from the kind we saw at SONY. Some of the stuff SEA did was similar in kind, but didn't see as much blatant destruction. I've read several global cyberpolicy recommendations and all of them recommend against the type of vicious and overtly destructive activity demonstrated by the SONY hacks (all of the papers I have read are about US cyberpolicy).