Scientology ransomware data breach: Alex Barnes-Ross on how bad it really is

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As a former London staffer and with his annual protests of the IAS gala at Scientology’s UK headquarters Saint Hill Manor, Alex Barnes-Ross is uniquely positioned to judge the severity of the ransomware breach of Saint Hill that emerged this week. He has some great insights. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A FLOATING NEEDLE can persist. This fact tells you at once why you cannot do three major actions in a row in the same ten minutes. This was the bug behind «Quickie Grades» (0 to IV in one session. This also occurred in power when it was run all in one day). The auditor would attain a bonafide full dial F/N. The pc was still cogniting, still in a big win. The auditor would ‘clear the next process command,’ he would see an F/N. He would ‘clear the next process command,’ and see an F/N. BUT IT WAS THE SAME F/N! Result was that processes 2 and 3 WERE NEVER RUN ON THE CASE.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones

 
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Source Code

“The automobile manufacturer is going to be very surprised in a few years. His motors are going to start less and less and less, in spite of the fact that they get brighter and brassier and newer and more sure-fire. Because he’s running out of people who can start motors. Now, this sounds very, very esoteric and supernecromantic. But the living truth of the matter is, you must have some of the ability within yourself to know before the MEST universe will run for you. You’ve got to get the idea of things, you know? You look at something and here’s a strange piece of machinery. You’ve never seen it before, you haven’t any idea what it’s for and you look at it and you get an idea of what it’s for. And you look at it a little longer and you get an idea of how it runs. And why is this? What is a machine? This is a machine society. They turn men into machines, and machines into machines, and there are more and more machines and less and less men. Although the birth rate keeps increasing and the death rate keeps decreasing, that’s still true….You will see babies in a few years being born with slots in their heads so that you can drop a quarter in. And the government will collect the quarters. What are we doing? We’re going further and further and further from an idea, and more and more and more toward a fixed idea. An adding machine, in essence, is a fixed idea. An automobile is a fixed idea. It is an idea surrounded by and trapped in MEST. See that? A fixed idea. How are you going to fix an idea in the MEST? Well, that’s quite a trick and that’s why people can’t start cars. You have to sort of know it goes before it goes. That’s the truth of the matter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 7, 1953

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“TECH BREAKTHROUGH: I have just made a fantastic tech breakthrough. For some days I have been spending hours each day on a Personality Change Research Project. I find it is not Personality but anti-social behavior that neither the person nor anyone else likes that is the change point. And I did it. I’ve got it. All cases benefit as it speeds exteriorization. It makes OT far more OT faster. Also it resolves the slow case gain case, the no case gain case, also the psychopathic personality and the criminal. The violent and depressed, the well and the sane are all covered now by one process series where the person will sit still. The Dianetic folder of a pc is used and what’s already in it is reworked…The substance of it is to attain at 10 the Really You, one’s Basic Personality and full OT Power. But as a single breakthrough it is very important as it opens the door not only to fast gains but also rids the universe of oppression. There was a common denominator to all cases good and bad. SO SAVE THOSE DIANETIC RECORDS AND WORKSHEETS. They are reused in this action and zoom!…You wanted to Clear the planet and end off SPs on the track. Well, boy, we’ve really got it! It’s been a valuable several days. Thank you for keeping things cool and going so I could work.” — The Commodore, December 7, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Ron rules. Academia (as an organization) sucks — today perhaps even more than then. Dianetics and Scientology is an engineering approach to the mind and humanities and they work better than what the establishment produces.”

Past is Prologue

2001: LA Weekly reviewed the restaurant in the Celebrity Center in Hollywood. “At least twice a day for the past eight years, I’ve driven past the Manor Hotel, which houses the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center International. But it was not until last month that I noticed a plastic sign affixed to its outer wall: ‘Renaissance Restaurant – Open to the Public.’ I am perversely interested in checking out the place, but the friends I mention this to are less than enthralled. ‘Bring brass knuckles and Mace,’ one friend helpfully suggests. Another wonders aloud whether the waiter will slip a personality test under my napkin. I know from experience that their concerns – that I will be strapped to a chair and forced to listen to Chick Corea music, or watch Battleship Earth until its cockamamie creed makes consummate sense – are unfounded. Years ago, I was the assistant to a screenwriting Scientologist who practiced none of the church’s tenets while availing himself of every financial perk membership offered, and was hence constantly being called before church tribunals. Behind a velvet rope is the purported office of founder L. Ron Hubbard, a soul-deadeningly dull den straight out of 1950s TV, with Ethan Allen-like appointments and a wall of locked bookcases holding what must be a ton of Scientology tomes whose spines don’t appear to have been cracked. ‘Yes, it is a beautiful restaurant,’ the maitre d’ says. ‘Everything
first-class. You know, when I take the job here, my father-in-law, he say, ‘No! You must put garlic around your neck and run the other way! Then he answers the question I am dying to ask. ‘But I am not a Scientologist.’ Are most of his customers? ‘Yes, because they come here from all over the world to stay in the hotel, to do their business.’ He nods as a waiter places our meals before us. ‘Bon appetit!’ ‘How long has that sign been out on Franklin?’ I ask the maitre d’. ‘That is new,’ he says. ‘People, you know, they don’t come; they think it is only for Scientologists. But it’s not; it’s a good restaurant, a beautiful restaurant. Dessert?'”

 
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Random Howdy

“Hubbard was navy-obsessed. You have to climb up to get to the ‘bridge’ on a ship.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. DA’s response to appeal brief due August 13.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing December 1.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal. Leah’s appeal brief was filed June 3. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Jane Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology’s IAS trophy winners part 2: The big whales keeping Dave afloat in 2024
[TWO years ago] Confirmed: Scientology leader David Miscavige is coming to Los Angeles this month!
[THREE years ago] VIDEO: Watch this, and you will run to Scientology’s ‘spiritual mecca’
[FOUR years ago] L. Ron Hubbard prepares his Scientology fans as he changes his ‘science’ into a ‘religion’
[FIVE years ago] The 2020 Scientology holiday catalog is here! What are you getting for your favorite thetan?
[SIX years ago] The rich donors keeping Scientology afloat at the end of 2019: Part 1, the lesser whales
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is quick to cry ‘bigotry,’ but these photos prove David Miscavige’s hypocrisy
[EIGHT years ago] KID CORPS: When Scientology’s Sea Org parents were told to stop wasting time on their kids
[NINE years ago] What to get the Scientologist who has everything: It’s the Scientology Xmas Catalog!
[TEN years ago] Jeffrey Augustine: Part two of his conversation with Jesse Prince
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Special Pearl Harbor Day edition!
[TWELVE years ago] Lori Hodgson and her son Jeremy: What you didn’t hear on Inside Edition
[THIRTEEN years ago] Ken Dandar in Federal Court Today — And Loses Again

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 7, 2025 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 20 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone