Michael Jackson Music cyber-jacked

Sony Music has suffered its second major security breach in a year, with Internet hackers stealing the entire back catalog as well as unreleased material by the late Michael Jackson, according to sources. 

The virtual-thieves allegedly downloaded more than 50,000 music files worth $253 million in the biggest ever cyber-attack on a music company. 

The news comes just a year after Sony paid $395 million for the seven-year rights to the songs following Jackson’s death. The contract with Jackson’s estate also allowed them to release 10 new albums, including material from studio sessions produced during the making of some of the star’s biggest albums. 

The singer, who died in June 2009 at the age of 50, had recorded unreleased duets with artists ranging from the late Freddie Mercury to Black Eyed Peas’ front-man Will.i.am.