In the US, former contractors have been charged with attempting to erase government databases using AI prompts.
Date: 2025-12-11 Author: Henry Casey Categories: IN WORLD
After being fired from a company that worked with dozens of federal agencies, two brothers from Virginia, Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter, almost immediately found themselves at the center of a criminal investigation. According to the US Department of Justice, within minutes of receiving their notices of dismissal, they began a series of actions aimed at damaging the IT infrastructure of their former employer.
Investigators allege that on February 18, 2025, one of the suspects gained unauthorized access to a law enforcement agency's database. After logging in, he deleted 96 databases containing investigative materials, internal documents, and information covered by the Federal Information Act (FOIA). These actions led to an attempt to partially paralyze the agency's operations.
Almost immediately after deleting the data, the suspects began accessing AI models, seeking instructions on how to clean up their digital footprints. They were interested in how to delete system logs in Windows Server and SQL environments, which, according to prosecutors, indicates an attempt to conceal the tampering. However, the rapid response of specialists allowed them to quickly detect the suspicious activity.
By the time law enforcement began recovering the data, it became clear that attempts to conceal the tampering had been futile: backups made it possible to fully recover the lost materials. The investigation emphasizes that the destruction of activity logs was incomplete, which helped establish the circumstances of the incident.
The Department of Justice also noted that both brothers had prior criminal histories. In 2015, they pleaded guilty to hacking US State Department systems and stealing personal data. This, according to prosecutors, served as an aggravating factor in bringing new charges.
Muneeb Akhter is currently charged with computer fraud, intentional destruction of documents, and illegal acquisition of personal data. The combined charges carry a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. His brother, Sohaib Akhter, is charged with conspiracy and illegal password distribution, charges that carry a maximum sentence of six years in prison.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the risks associated with automation, contractor access to government systems, and the criminal use of AI. The case highlights the importance of privilege monitoring, access auditing, and promptly disabling employee accounts after termination.
