Sony Pictures hack: Company fears further cyberattacks after The Interview release

Officials at Sony Pictures are afraid that the entertainment firm would suffer more cyberattacks after the release of the controversial movie, The Interview, on 25 December.

A US national security source told technology news site Re/code that the company's representatives have apprised US authorities on the possibility of further hacking attacks.

"They are spooked," said the official.

In November, the company suffered a massive hacking attack in one of the most revealing and embarrassing cases in history for a major corporation.

Employee salaries, movie star paydays, leaked films, emails revealing some choice words about certain actresses, and plans for major franchises have leaked so far, and more revelations come out every day.

The hacking attack was done by a group named Guardians of Peace (GOP) who want Sony to cancel the release of The Interview – Seth Rogen and James Franco's upcoming comedy about the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"Stop immediately showing the movie of terrorism which can break the regional peace and cause the War!" the group said.

While government officials from North Korea said the country has no role in the attack, they hailed the cyberattack on Sony as a "righteous act" and criticised the company for "abetting a terrorist act while hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the (North)".

Given the possibility of the state's involvement in the attack, the National Security Division of the US Department of Justice is part of the probe, another government official told Reuters.

The officials are continuing to investigate the case and have reached no final conclusion.