Russian 'Sherlock' Leak Was Mistake, Not Hack

Before it aired on the BBC last week, the final episode of Sherlock's season four was leaked online. Intriguingly, it looked as if the leak had come from inside Russia, leading the BBC to investigate where and how the leak happened.

According to Channel One, the Russian TV network with the rights to broadcast Sherlock in Russia, the leak was the result of a mistake by one of its employees, not a nefarious plot by cyber criminals.

"We regret to confirm that one of our employees non-maliciously broke our strict security protocols," the network said in a statement. "As a result of this gross dereliction of duty, the file leaked online."

The BBC was apparently satisfied with the network's explanation that the breach was accidental and not intentional. The BBC said, however, that it would be working with Channel One to ensure that such an incident doesn't happen again.

The long-awaited fourth season of Sherlock concluded this month with each of its three episodes turning in lower ratings than those of previous seasons. Neither the shows creators nor its stars, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, have committed to a fifth season.