CEO of the Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger Getty Images

Last week, Walt Disney CEO Bob Iger reportedly informed employees that hackers had infiltrated the company and stole a copy of the latest installment of "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise, due out on May 26. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the suspected perpetrators demanded a ransom, or they would release the movie in 20-minute increments if Disney failed to pay up. The incident followed the recent theft of 10 episodes of Netflix's new season of "Orange is the New Black," which was released on the Web after the company refused to pay up. A Twitter user called "The Dark Overlord" claimed responsibility, warning ominously that the release was only just the beginning. "Who is next on the list? FOX, IFC, NAT GEO, and ABC. Oh, what fun we're all going to have. We're not playing any games anymore." Thus far, Disney has refused to cooperate, raising the possibility that "Pirates" could hit the Internet before its planned release date. Yet in an era where data breaches are becoming increasingly commonplace, several experts said Disney—and companies that find themselves in a similar predicament—should take a hard line with cyber-terrorists.



"No, don't pay the ransom," said Tom Kulik, an intellectual property lawyer at Scheef & Stone law firm in Dallas, told CNBC. "More and more frequently, hackers responsible for ransomware attacks take the money and provide no (or inadequate) means to decrypt the files after payment. Sometimes, they even attempt to extort more," Kulik explained. By not paying a ransom immediately, "Disney is taking the right approach because there is nothing they can do to prevent the hackers from leaking the movie right now, so paying any ransom solves nothing," he added.

Although paying the ransom is hardly a new approach, it's clear some firms realize their approach to security may be lacking and paying might be the way out. Terence Goggin director, Alvarez and Marsal

The widespread ransomeware attack that took place over a week ago, as well as breaches against Disney, Netflix and Sony in 2014, underscore the vulnerabilities media companies must address in the digital era. Because most movies are distributed electronically—a far cry from the days when homemade DVDs recorded with hand-held cameras were sold on street corners—piracy and hacking is an ever present threat for movie companies. Some are preparing accordingly. "I'm personally aware of several financial institutions that have started keeping a stock of digital currency on hand, should they find themselves victims of ransomware," Terence Goggin, a director with consulting firm Alvarez and Marsal consulting firm, told CNBC. "Although paying the ransom is hardly a new approach, it's clear some firms realize their approach to security may be lacking and paying might be the way out," he added. Scheef & Stone's Kulik recommended that studios get in the habit of encrypting their files, "and limit access to a handful of individuals who can act as gatekeepers to them."

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