The Sony hack set America's teeth on edge and created waves of activity, from people flocking to see a movie they believed a foreign government had tried to keep from them, to hackers attacking that government in retaliation. North Korea has denied responsibility for the Sony hack, though, and now, the man behind one of the best-known anti-virus products on the market, says that he knows who really hacked Sony, and why.
John McAfee has an interesting history and reputation. CNBC notes that the man is known for a quirky sense of humor -- his New Year's resolution for 2014 included staying away from women and bath salts, and only playing jokes on journalists who can appreciate his sense of humor. This makes it hard to tell how much of an interview is serious, and how much is playing with the reporter. BBC's description of McAfee in 2013 as an "addict, coder, runaway" who has been called the paranoid schizophrenic wild child of Silicon Valley, only adds to the question of how seriously the man's assertions can be taken.
Still, when it comes to internet security, there's no doubt McAfee is an expert, and his remarks to International Business Times UK on the Sony hack bear some interest. He said that North Korea wasn't behind the hack -- instead, it was carried out by those who have a problem with Sony for the restrictions the music and movie industry have placed on "content of art."
McAfee also said that he supports the ideology behind the Sony hack, if not all the actions of the hackers.
However, it's not the first time that McAfee has hinted that he knew the background of the Sony hack. He also shared a video on his website in December, that indicated the U.S. government could be behind the hack.