Game of Thrones Season 5 Leak

published 13 April 2015

Highly recommended: avoiding people who've got no qualms about illegal downloading because they've probably seen half of Game of Thrones season five already, and you don't need that kind of anxiety in your life.

According to Variety (opens in new tab), the first four new episodes popped up on piracy networks Saturday, almost a full 24 hours before the television premiere. By 5 p.m. Sunday, the leaked episodes had been downloaded more than 1.7 million times worldwide.

"Sadly, it seems the leaked four episodes of the upcoming season of Game of Thrones originated from within a group approved by HBO to receive them," HBO said in a statement, seemingly confirming Mashable's theory (opens in new tab) that they came from a screener. "We're actively assessing how this breach occurred."

In other words, resist the urge to do some Google sleuthing, or worse, Torrent. Or, just stay off the Internet entirely except MarieClaire.com, because we'd never give that stuff away—promise.

You should also check out:

9 Horrible Life Lessons from 'Game of Thrones': Season 5, Episode 1 (opens in new tab)

14 Things I Hope Happen in the New Season of 'Game of Thrones' (opens in new tab)

Jon Snow Is the Best/Worst Dinner Party Guest (opens in new tab)

Chelsea Peng is a writer and editor who was formerly the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com. She's also worked for The Strategist and Refinery29, and is a graduate of Northwestern University. On her tombstone, she would like a GIF of herself that's better than the one that already exists on the Internet and a free fro-yo machine. Besides frozen dairy products, she's into pirates, carbs, Balzac, and snacking so hard she has to go lie down.