Hackers launched twin attacks against Sony on Sunday — tweeting a bomb threat that diverted a company executive’s flight and bringing down its PlayStation online network.
Using the handle of John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment, the group Lizard Squad sent an ominous tweet to American Airlines on Sunday night.
“We have been receiving reports that @j_smedley’s plane #362 from DFW to SAN has explosives on-board, please look into this,” it said.
An earlier tweet from a gamers forum warned: “I’m gonna send a bomb on your plane be ready for me tomorrow.”
Smedley’s Dallas-to-San Diego flight was diverted to Phoenix so police could search passengers’ bags.
“Yes. My plane was diverted. Not going to discuss more than that. Justice will find these guys,” he tweeted.
On the same day, Sony’s PlayStation Network for video games was flooded with “artificially high traffic” that rendered it unusable Sunday and part of Monday.
Lizard Squad took responsibility for the attack and claimed it had been carried out on behalf of the Islamic State militant group.
“Kuffar [nonbelievers] don’t get to play videogames until bombing of the ISIL stops,” a post said.
The FBI is investigating, a representative said.
With Post Wires