Synopsis
Intel is investigating a major internal security breach after a former software engineer allegedly stole 18,000 confidential files and vanished. The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the employee was notified of termination. During his final days with the company, he is said to have copied thousands of documents from his work computer onto external drives, including materials labeled “Top Secret” that contained sensitive information about Intel’s chip designs and future technologies.
Despite internal systems flagging suspicious activity, the data transfer was completed before security teams intervened. When investigators attempted to contact the ex-employee, he could not be located and has since disappeared, sparking concerns of a deliberate digital heist. Intel has filed a civil lawsuit seeking at least $250,000 in damages and demanding the immediate return of the stolen files.
The case highlights the growing risk of insider threats in the technology industry, especially during large-scale layoffs when departing workers may still have access to valuable intellectual property. It also underscores the need for stricter off-boarding procedures, improved monitoring tools, and faster response protocols. For Intel, the disappearance represents not only a legal challenge but a potential exposure of trade secrets in one of the world’s most competitive industries.
Intel worker fired, then disappears with 18,000 secret files in digital heist
Intel has filed a lawsuit against its ex-engineer Jinfeng Luo for allegedly taking thousands of secret company files. The case comes as Intel faces big job cuts and money troubles. The company now wants to recover the stolen data and make sure its private information stays safe.