FBI thwarts data breach at Akamai Technologies

Elliot Doxer, who worked in the Akamai 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 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.
 

What’s hot on Infosecurity Magazine?