FBI thwarts data breach at Akamai Technologies

[Christine Fulgham <christine () opensecurityfoundation org>]

http://www.infosecurity-us.com/view/13114/fbi-thwarts-data-breach-at-akamai-technologies/

 A potential data breach at Akamai Technologies was foiled by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), prosecutors disclosed this week.

Elliot Doxer, who worked in the Akamai <http://www.akamai.com/> finance
department, was arrested and charged with secretly providing confidential
business information over an 18-month period to an undercover FBI agent he
thought worked for a foreign government, according to a
release<http://www.justice.gov/usao/ma/Press%20Office%20-%20Press%20Release%20Files/Oct2010/DoxerElliotPR.html>from
the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Doxer is charged with one count of wire fraud for providing Akamai customer
lists, contract details, and employee information. He also is charged with
describing Akamai’s physical and computer security systems and offering to
travel to the foreign country and to support special and sensitive
operations in his local area, if needed.

In 2006, Doxer contacted the undisclosed foreign country’s consulate in
Boston to offer confidential Akamai information. The likely country of
contact was Israel because Doxer identified himself in court papers as a
Jewish-American who wanted to help “our homeland and our war against our
enemies”. He also asked for $3000 because of the risks he was taking.

In 2007, an uncover FBI agent contacted Doxer to see if he was still
interested in providing confidential information, which he confirmed he
still was. The agent arranged with Doxer a “dead drop” site for the Akamai
documents; Doxer visited the site at least 62 times over 18 months.

If he is convicted, Doxer faces a $250,000 fine and up to 20 years in jail.

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