Sacked worker faces jail over malware revenge attack

Fast food systems choke on system-crashing code

By John Leyden • Get more from this author

Posted in Crime, 15th January 2009 15:56 GMT

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A sacked worker has admitted planting malware on his former employer's computer network in a revenge attack.

David Ernest Everett Jr, 21, of Blaine, Minnesota, a former help desk staffer at Wand Corp, carried out the attack three weeks after losing his job in March 2008. Wand supplies IT systems including point-of-sale kit for fast food restaurants, including KFC and Burger King.

After planting three malicious systems-cacheing files on systems connected to Wand's extranet, Everett succeeded in affecting 25 servers at various restaurants on 10 April, causing estimated damages of $49,000 in clean-up costs in the process, according to local reports. The assault was quickly traced back to Everett, who mounted the attack from his home PC.

Everett confessed his actions and faces up to ten years' imprisonment at a sentencing hearing, which is yet to be scheduled. ®

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