Ethical Hacking News
A former Disney employee has admitted to hacking into the company's menu creation software to alter key details, including food allergy information that could have been dangerous to customers at the resort's restaurants. The incident raises concerns about the importance of taking computer security seriously and highlights the potential consequences of such actions.
A former Disney employee, Michael Scheuer, hacked into the company's menu creation software, altering key details. Scheuer's actions could have put customers with food allergies at risk, particularly after a woman died from an allergic reaction to a meal she was served at a Disney restaurant last year. Scheuer manipulated menus with profanity and added a swastika in one instance, as well as conducted denial-of-service attacks on his former colleagues' work accounts. He also leaked the link and login used to change the menus onto the dark web, potentially putting customers at risk. Scheuer agreed to pay Disney restitution and a government fine as part of a plea deal, citing mental health issues exacerbated by his firing from the company.
Disney, one of the most beloved and iconic entertainment companies in the world, has been hit with a shocking case of computer crime. A former employee, Michael Scheuer, who was fired from his position as the "Menu Production Manager" for the company, has admitted to hacking into Disney's menu creation software to alter key details, including food allergy information that could have been dangerous to customers at the resort's restaurants.
The case began last year when a woman died after dining at a restaurant operated on one of Disney's Florida properties. The woman had an allergy to nuts and dairy, but was incorrectly told by her waiter that the meal she had ordered could be made without those ingredients. The couple who owned her, brought a complaint to the Justice Department, which led to an investigation into Scheuer's actions.
As part of a plea deal, Scheuer has agreed to pay Disney restitution as well as a government fine. His lawyer, David Haas, stated that Scheuer is "prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct" and expressed remorse for what happened, citing mental health issues exacerbated by the company's decision to fire him upon his return from paternity leave.
Scheuer's attacks on the company allegedly took place over a period of three months. During this time, he manipulated the menus of restaurants owned and operated by Disney, defacing them with profanity and even adding a swastika in one instance. He also conducted denial-of-service attacks on the work accounts of several of his former colleagues.
Perhaps the most egregious example of Scheuer's actions was changing the wine regions of alcoholic drinks to locations that had mass shootings. Court documents revealed that he also leaked the link and login used to change the menus onto the dark web, potentially putting customers at risk.
Fortunately, none of the restaurant menus that Scheuer manipulated were ever distributed to venues. However, his actions demonstrate a shocking level of disregard for the safety and well-being of others.
This case highlights the importance of taking computer security seriously, particularly in industries where customer safety is paramount. It also serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly minor infractions can have serious consequences when left unchecked.
In conclusion, the case of Michael Scheuer serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of hacking and cybercrime. While it may seem like a small act of vandalism at first glance, its potential impact on customer safety is far greater than that. As we move forward in an increasingly digital world, it is more important than ever to prioritize security and take steps to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Related Information:
https://gizmodo.com/former-disney-employee-admits-to-hacking-menu-system-to-change-allergy-information-2000548974
Published: Sun Jan 12 11:51:18 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
