2009-02-01
Abstract
Contractor accused of leaving malicious script as parting gift to US mortgage firm Fanny Mae.
Copyright © 2009 Virus Bulletin
A former contractor at US mortgage firm Fannie Mae has pleaded not guilty to charges of having planted malware on the firm’s computer systems.
Rajendrasinh Babubhai Makwana had been working as a computer programmer at Fannie Mae until his contract was terminated in October 2008. Prosecutors allege that following his termination he planted malicious code on the company’s systems. The code, which was embedded within a legitimate script, was designed to trigger on 31 January, overwriting data across the company’s network of 4,000 servers, however it was discovered by another Unix engineer five days after Makwana’s dismissal.
According to an FBI sworn statement Makwana’s access to the Fannie Mae computer systems was not terminated immediately following his dismissal – although notified of the termination of his contract between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m., he was not required to turn in all of his computer equipment until the end of the day, and his access to the company’s computer systems was not terminated until late in the evening. Had the malicious script not been discovered, it is estimated that the damage would have run to millions of dollars.
A trial date is expected to be set later this month. If convicted, Makwana faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
