Top 5 Cybersecurity Scandals Involving Insider Threats

​Insider threats—security risks originating from within an organization—have led to some of the most significant cybersecurity breaches in recent history. These incidents point towards the critical need for robust internal security measures. Here are five notable cases:​

1. Tesla's Data Breach Orchestrated by Former Employees (2023)

In May 2023, Tesla faced a significant internal security breach when two former employees leaked over 100GB of confidential data to the German media outlet Handelsblatt. This trove, dubbed the "Tesla Files," contained sensitive information on over 75,000 current and former employees, including personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers. Beyond personal data, the leak exposed customer bank details, production secrets, and internal complaints about Tesla's driver assistance systems. Tesla responded by initiating legal action against the perpetrators, leading to the seizure of their electronic devices and court orders to prevent further data dissemination. ​

2. Yahoo's AdLearn Trade Secret Theft by Senior Scientist (2022)

In a calculated act of corporate espionage, Yahoo's senior research scientist, Qian Sang, exploited his privileged access to exfiltrate approximately 570,000 pages of proprietary information related to Yahoo's AdLearn product. This massive data haul encompassed source code, backend architecture, and strategic plans. Sang's actions came to light weeks after he had accepted a position with The Trade Desk, a direct competitor. Yahoo's subsequent lawsuit underscored the potential competitive disadvantage posed by the breach and sought damages exceeding $5 million. 

3. Capital One's Massive Data Breach by Former AWS Engineer (2019)

Paige A. Thompson, leveraging her experience as a software engineer at Amazon Web Services, identified and exploited a misconfigured web application firewall at Capital One. This vulnerability allowed her unauthorized access to sensitive data of over 100 million individuals, including Social Security numbers and bank account details. Thompson's audacious approach included public boasts about her exploits on platforms like GitHub and social media, which ultimately led to her apprehension. The breach resulted in Capital One incurring costs upwards of $250 million, encompassing legal fees, customer notifications, and enhanced security measures. ​

4. Anthony Levandowski's Theft of Google's Self-Driving Car Secrets (2016)

Anthony Levandowski, a prominent figure in the autonomous vehicle sector, clandestinely downloaded approximately 14,000 confidential files from Google's self-driving car project, Waymo, before departing to establish his own venture, Otto. Otto's subsequent acquisition by Uber raised suspicions, leading to a legal battle where Waymo accused Uber of benefiting from stolen trade secrets. Levandowski's actions culminated in a conviction for trade secret theft, resulting in an 18-month prison sentence and substantial financial restitution. ​

5. Yahoo's Intellectual Property Compromised by Departing Employee (2022)

In a strikingly similar incident to the earlier Yahoo breach, another research scientist illicitly downloaded extensive proprietary information related to Yahoo's advertising technologies upon receiving a job offer from a competitor. This breach jeopardized Yahoo's competitive standing and highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in its data protection protocols. Legal proceedings were initiated to address the theft and mitigate potential damages.