Former govt contractor convicted for wiping dozens of federal databases
Review the incident to strengthen internal access controls and audit logs.
Review and tighten access controls, audit logs, and incident response procedures for contractors.
Summary
A 34‑year‑old Virginia man, Sohaib Akhter, was found guilty of conspiring to destroy dozens of federal databases after being fired from a government contracting firm. The case follows a 2016 conviction of Sohaib and his twin brother Muneeb for illegally accessing U.S. State Department systems and stealing personal data. Both men were rehired by a contractor that serviced more than 45 federal agencies and hosted data on servers in Ashburn. After their termination on February 18 2025, the brothers allegedly accessed computers without authorization, write‑protected, deleted, and destroyed evidence in roughly 96 databases within a few hours.
The targeted data included sensitive investigative documents, Freedom of Information Act records, and a Department of Homeland Security database. Prosecutors also claim the brothers asked an AI assistant how to clear system logs and ran commands to prevent others from modifying the databases. The indictment lists charges of destruction of records, aggravated identity theft, computer fraud, and theft of government information. Sohaib Akhter is scheduled to be sentenced on September 9 2026, facing a maximum of 21 years, while Muneeb faces up to 45 years for multiple counts.
Key changes
- Sohaib and Muneeb Akhter destroyed ~96 federal databases after termination
- Attack included DHS database, FOIA records, and sensitive investigative documents
- They used unauthorized access, write‑protect, deletion, and evidence‑destroying commands
- Prosecutors claim they asked an AI assistant how to clear system logs
- Sentences: Sohaib faces max 21 years, Muneeb faces max 45 years