Massive Data Breach at Intel: Former Engineer Accused of Stealing Thousands of Files
In a shocking case of corporate data theft, technology giant Intel has filed a $250,000 lawsuit against a former software engineer accused of stealing tens of thousands of confidential documents, including materials classified as "Intel Top Secret". The lawsuit reveals a sophisticated attempt to extract sensitive company information just before the employee's termination.
The Alleged Data Theft Operation
According to court documents, the accused former employee, Jinfeng Luo, had been working with Intel since 2014 before his employment was terminated on July 7, 2024, as part of the company's ongoing workforce reduction. However, in the weeks leading up to his departure, Luo allegedly engaged in an extensive data extraction operation.
Intel's security systems first detected suspicious activity approximately one week before Luo's scheduled departure when he attempted to transfer data from his company-issued laptop to an external drive. The company's security protocols successfully blocked this initial attempt. Undeterred, Luo allegedly made another attempt just three days before his final day at Intel, this time successfully copying sensitive files to a network-attached storage (NAS) device.
Investigators claim that during his remaining tenure, Luo downloaded approximately 18,000 files from Intel's systems, including highly classified proprietary information. The scale and nature of the downloaded material have raised serious concerns within the company about potential intellectual property theft.
Intel's Desperate Search and Legal Action
Intel discovered the unauthorized data transfers shortly after Luo's departure and has spent the past three months attempting to locate him. Company representatives tried multiple communication channels including phone calls, emails, and postal letters, but all attempts to contact the former engineer proved unsuccessful.
With Luo remaining untraceable and the stolen data potentially at risk, Intel was compelled to file the $250,000 lawsuit to recover its confidential information and seek damages for the security breach. The legal action aims to compel Luo to return all company property and provide accountability for the alleged data theft.
Not an Isolated Incident for Intel
This case marks the second major data theft incident involving a former Intel employee in recent times. In a similar previous case, another ex-engineer, Varun Gupta, was sentenced to two years' probation and fined $34,000 for stealing company data that he later used to secure a position at Microsoft.
Gupta, who had worked as a product marketing engineer at Intel for nearly a decade, was subsequently fired from his senior position at Microsoft after his actions came to light. These repeated incidents highlight the ongoing challenges technology companies face in protecting their intellectual property from internal threats.
The case against Jinfeng Luo continues to develop as authorities work to locate the former engineer and assess the full extent of the damage caused by the alleged data breach. Intel has emphasized its commitment to protecting its trade secrets and taking strong legal action against any violations of its security protocols.
