Sony hackers expose spats, a "brat" and trade secrets

Washington

THE hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment has escalated into a humiliating public crisis for the company as deeply held secrets - including business practices, pay disparities and ugly personal feuds - continue spilling onto the Internet in ways that specialists say could damage the Hollywood studio for years to come.

The architects of the attack have shown little interest in the traditional targets of cyber-intrusions, such as credit cards, choosing instead to use information as a weapon of vengeance for supposed misdeeds by the company. The troves of stolen information have found a voracious audience online, where Sony long has been a favourite target because of its aggressive anti-piracy efforts.