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Hacker accessed DoD contractor data from bikini bar

A recently fired IT worker --David Palmer -- broke into the military contractor\'s computer system and wiped out payroll files while eating a burger at a sports...

Federal News Network Staff

September 6, 2011 5:56 pm

< a min read

Hackers can breach your system from anywhere in the world — even from a bikini bar.

That’s what happened to defense contractor McLane Advanced Technologies. A recently fired IT worker –David Palmer — broke into the military contractor’s computer system and wiped out payroll files while eating a burger at a sports bar.

Computer World reports Palmer was angry his former employer refused to help him with an unemployment benefits claim.

Prosecutors say Palmer set up a back-door user account before McLane fired him. Palmer used that account to break into the payroll files from a variety of locations.

Palmer pleaded guilty to computer intrusion charges. He will be sentenced on Nov. 2.

This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily Cybersecurity Update. For more cybersecurity news, click here.