Hackers say Sony Pictures staff can opt out of next data leak

It must be the season of goodwill, because the Sony hackers are offering privacy to some of the victims of their cyber-mischief.

The Guardians of Peace group claims to be behind the recent hacking of Sony Pictures Entertainment's data.

Over the past two weeks, it has uploaded forthcoming Sony movies as well as leaking embarrassing documents and emails from the company's personnel.

A draft script of the new James Bond movie, Spectre, was also released by the hackers.

But they now appear to be softening their approach, and have offered to hold back further emails and documents if the people named in them request it.

'Message to SPE Staffers,' says a post published on Pastebin. 'We have a plan to release emails and privacy of the Sony Pictures employees. If you don't want your privacy to be released, tell us your name and business title to take off your data.'

That olive branch doesn't seem to extend to many senior Sony execs, who have had their emails forensically combed through, with juicy snippets published.

At the same time, another chunk of data was released, which appeared to be the email archive of Steve O'Dell, president of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

There was also reference to an upcoming 'Christmas gift'.

The Guardians of Peace said: 'The gift will be larger quantities of data. And it will be more interesting.'

It is still unknown who is responsible for the Sony hack, although North Korea is the number one suspect.

The rogue state is enraged by forthcoming Sony film The Interview - starring James Franco and Seth Rogen - about a CIA plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mind you, the ongoing story of mass hacking and its subsequent fallout would probably make for an even better movie.