Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/15/malware_revenge_attack/
Sacked worker faces jail over malware revenge attack
Fast food systems choke on system-crashing code
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 (http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&ie=UTF-8&ncl=1292646177). 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. ®