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An Iranian-based hacker Behzad Mesri, also known as “Skote Vahshat,” has been charged by U.S prosecutors for hacking into cable TV provider HBO from May to August and stealing unaired episodes of programs including "ballers" "Curb Your Enthusiasm and "The Deuce".

A sealed indictment released on Tuesday by the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan indicated the charge that Mesri perpetrated cyber attack on HBO and then threatened to release the data unless he was paid $6 million.

The indictment portrayed the hacker as a “self-professed expert” in hacking who had worked on behalf of Iran’s military to attack military systems, nuclear software systems and Israeli infrastructure.

It also alleged that he worked with an Iranian hacking group, Turk Black Hat Security Team, to deface dozens of websites in the United States and other countries.

The cyber attack manifested over the summer as HBO was running a new season of “Game of Thrones” and as the cable network’s parent Time Warner Inc sought regulatory approval to sell itself to AT&T Inc in an $85.4 billion deal announced in October 2016.

The whereabouts of the suspect is yet to be revealed. Also a spokesman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that Mesri is yet to be arrested.

No HBO representative could be reached for comment.

 

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