Devastating NK cyber attack on Sony...because Seth Rogen and James Franco?

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A Hollywood studio is trying to solve a real-life mystery -- Sony Pictures Entertainment is the target of a massive cyber-invasion, and North Korea is one of the main suspects.

Over Thanksgiving weekend, hackers leaked five unreleased Sony movies to file-sharing websites, and it could have been payback for another new production, reports CBS News correspondent Carter Evans.

In Sony's upcoming comedy "The Interview," TV journalists played by Seth Rogen and James Franco are recruited to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The film has become a source of international controversy, with North Korea vowing "merciless retaliation" for its release and calling it an act of war.

Last week, cyber-attackers identifying themselves as "Guardians of Peace" hacked-into Sony Pictures' computer system. Reputed screen-shots popped-up on employee's screens prompting the company to initiate a wide-spread system shut-down. According to technology news site Re/code, Sony is investigating whether the hackers had ties to North Korea.

"It looks like this is going to continue to get bigger," cyber security expert Gary Miliefsky said. "If I were Sony, I would be prepared, if they come out with the movie 'The Interview' on December 25th, to expect stronger attacks from North Korea through their operatives around the globe."

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SHINGTON — A Sony Pictures internal investigation has identified North Korea as the source of a devastating computer attack, and the studio is deliberating whether to announce the findings publicly, according to a person familiar with the discussions.

The company's investigation has linked the hackers that stole a major holiday film release and unleashed a destructive computer worm to a North Korean group known as DarkSeoul, which was responsible for similar attacks on South Korean banks and television studios last year, a second person familiar with the investigation said.

Sony lawyers are discussing with company executives and officials at FireEye, a security firm specializing in cyber-espionage that was hired to investigate the attack, whether to announce the link to North Korea, the first person said. No decision has been made, the person said.

Technology website Re/code reported earlier that Sony was going to make an announcement about the perpetrators of the attack.

"The investigation continues into this very sophisticated cyber attack. The Re/code story is not accurate," Sony said in a statement. No announcement is currently planned, according to another person familiar with the discussions. Joshua Campbell, a spokesman for the FBI in Washington, declined to comment. North Korea's United Nations mission didn't respond to an e-mailed request for comment.

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