A former core infrastructure engineer was sentenced to 32 months in prison for executing a ransomware-style attack that locked thousands of devices on his employer's network. The engineer, Daniel Rhyne, targeted the New Jersey-headquartered industrial company where he was employed, based on information published by Bleeping Computer.
Daniel Rhyne, 57, pleaded guilty to an extortion plot after being arrested in August 2024. Court documents reveal that Rhyne used an administrator account to remotely access the company's network between Nov. 8 and Nov. 25, 2023. He changed administrator and user account passwords, deleted domain admin accounts, and blocked access to hundreds of servers and thousands of workstations. Rhyne also sent a ransom email demanding 20 bitcoin, approximately $750,000 at the time, threatening further shutdowns and claiming to have deleted server backups. Investigators found Rhyne had researched methods for changing passwords, deleting accounts, and clearing logs prior to the attack. This incident highlights the severe consequences of insider threats and the sophisticated methods employed in cyber extortion schemes.
Source: Bleeping Computer
