[srj]

The notion that a computer hacking threat and the threat of physical harm are somehow in the same ballpark is completely without merit and absurd. There's not the slightest evidence that the hackers could physically harm someone beyond the capabilities that any person in this world possesses.

Further the actual damage in this case is quite minor. Some of Sony's private business dealings were made public and some employees were embarrassed, but what other harm could you possibly see? Businesses have been online for 10-15 years now and computer security has improved dramatically over that time. We're not in any new era of capability, though with the amount of hysteria over this we may be in a new one mentally.

The only real threat is in our government marching towards totalitarianism by enacting invasive laws and spying on its populace in bulk. Unwarranted fear likes yours is what enables that.