Sony Hack Signals Threat to Destroy Data, Not Just Steal From Companies, Analysts Say

The hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. points to a type of attack security analysts have long dreaded: one that uses the sophistication of a foreign government to destroy systems rather than just steal data.

There have been a handful of such incidents around the world and they are likely to grow more common, either to further a political agenda or hide evidence of theft or espionage, Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, told Bloomberg News.

“Either for political or economic reasons, at some point sophisticated actors are going to be more willing to use ...