Smashing Pumpkins Frontman Billy Corgan’s Response to Alleged Hacker: Pay Up!

In a recent podcast, Smashing Pumpkins front man Billy Corgan revealed that the band’s upcoming album was almost leaked after a hacker stole several songs and threatened to release them without a payoff. “A fan contacted me and said nine of the songs have leaked,” Corgan told the Klein/Ally Show. “This is like six months ago. And they were all probably the most catchy, singley type songs.”

## The Response from Corgan and Law Enforcement

To protect the album’s music, Corgan paid off the cybercriminal out of his own pocket and then notified the FBI, who tracked down the hacker. “What we were able to do was stop the leak from happening because it was a mercenary person who had hacked somebody – I don’t want to say who, excuse me – and they had other stuff from other artists,” Corgan added.

## Similar Cases of Leaked Music

Unfortunately, the Smashing Pumpkins incident is not isolated. Several high-profile artists have had their music stolen or leaked before their official release. Earlier this year, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Nicki Minaj were amongst the victims of a data breach at Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, an entertainment law firm. Hackers stole 756 gigabytes of data, including music and private emails.

## The Danger of Cybercriminals

These incidents emphasize the danger of cybercriminals and the damage they can cause. In the case of Smashing Pumpkins, theft and the threat of a leak could have seriously impacted the band’s success and reputation. In the case of Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, cybercriminals could have sold personal information on the dark web, used it to blackmail artists, or even manipulated stock prices.

## Recommendations for Internet Security

It is time for musicians and their production teams to prioritize internet security. Musicians need to implement better safeguards to protect new music releases, including improved cybersecurity measures and third-party experts to monitor for any potential breaches. These precautions could prevent future leaks and hacks and protect sensitive data from the hands of cybercriminals.

The incident also highlights the need for more robust cybersecurity measures on a broader scale, with governments and private sector companies taking steps to increase internet security worldwide. As technology advances, so does the threat of cyberattacks, and it is imperative that we take the necessary precautions to prevent cybercrime from causing major harm.

As the rise of cybercrime continues, this case serves as a reminder to all artists to stay alert and vigilant when it comes to their sensitive information.