Former Cybersecurity Employees Accused of Hacking and Extorting U.S. Companies
Two former employees of cybersecurity firms, whose services were meant to protect clients from cyber threats, have been indicted for allegedly conspiring to hack several U.S. companies and demand multi-million dollar ransoms.
According to prosecutors, Kevin Tyler Martin of Roanoke, Texas, and Ryan Clifford Goldberg of Watkinsville, Georgia, were involved in deploying ransomware commonly used by a major cybercriminal group. Their attacks in 2023 reportedly targeted a medical device manufacturer in Florida, a pharmaceutical company in Maryland, and a drone producer in Virginia, among others.
The indictment, filed in the U.S. Southern District of Florida, includes federal charges such as interfering with interstate commerce through extortion and deliberately damaging protected computer systems.
The two men are accused of participating in a conspiracy to hack multiple U.S. firms and extort them for millions of dollars.
The case underscores ongoing concerns about insider threats within the cybersecurity industry, where technical expertise can be exploited for criminal gain.
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Author’s summary: Two ex-cybersecurity professionals have been charged with using ransomware to extort U.S. businesses, exposing insider risks in the digital defense sector.