Sony Hack Signals Threat to Destroy Not Just Steal Data

The hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment points to a type of attack security experts have long dreaded: one that uses the sophistication of a foreign government to destroy systems rather than just steal data.

There have been a handful of such incidents around the world and they are likely to grow more common, either to further a political agenda or hide evidence of theft or espionage, said Michael Chertoff, former secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department.