A former Disney engineer who downloaded an AI tool for fun says the decision destroyed his life and career.
Matthew Van Andel, 42, had his financial information stolen by hackers who used his login credentials to steal crucial data from Disney, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
That saw him fired from his job.
He had downloaded the free software from the code-sharing site GitHub in February on a computer at his $1.1 million home. The technology was supposed to help him create AI images from text prompts. Instead, it was malware that gave hackers access to his entire digital life – including his work data – through a password-manager.
Van Andel knew something was wrong in July, when he received a Discord message that read: ‘I have gained access to certain sensitive information related to your personal and professional life.’
The stranger messaging knew a lot about him – including details about his lunch with co-workers days before that had been discussed in a private workplace Slack channel.
The next morning, after Van Andel went to the police instead of handing the hackers more information, over 44 million Disney messages were published online.
The data dump included Disney’s private customer information, employee passport numbers, and theme park and streaming revenue numbers.
The hacker claimed online that they had an ‘inside man.’
Former Disney engineer Matthew Van Andel, 42, says he had his life destroyed after downloading AI software for fun. He is seen with his wife and sons
The technology was supposed to help him create AI images from text prompts. Instead, it was malware that gave hackers access to his entire digital life – including his work data – through a password-manager. Stock
‘The user was aware we had them, he tried to kick us out once but let us walk right back in before the second time,’ they said in an email to CNN following the stolen data dump.
Van Andel had his credit card numbers stolen and his logins for financial accounts leaked in the data dump. Hackers even posted his Social Security number and login information for the Ring cameras in his home.
The father of two told the WSJ ‘It’s impossible to convey the sense of violation.’
He told Disney’s cyber security team about the breach, and he eventually realized the hack came through his home computer.
The hacker, who called himself ‘Nullbulge,’ reportedly told Van Andel he was part of a Russia-based hacktivist group who stands for the rights of artists and against companies using AI.
However, researches say they are most likely an American and working alone, seeking financial gain.
Van Andel saw his life upended after the hack, with even his kids’ Roblox accounts hacked. His social medias accounts were filled with offensive language from people who used the stolen data to log in.
Van Halen’s sister Christa Maier told the Los Angeles Post: ‘It was a tool that they had initially downloaded just to have fun with the children… But it was polluted with something, and this would not become apparent until many months later, when they were mining data.’
The hackers could watch Van Andel and his family after stealing logins to his Ring cameras. Van Andel’s $1million home in Los Angeles is pictured above
Van Andel lost his job after Disney said he accessed pornography on his work computer
A few weeks after the hack, Van Andel was fired from Disney after a forensic analysis of his work computer found he accessed pornographic material on the device – which he denies doing.
Van Andel’s health insurance was terminated and he lost about $200,000 in bonuses, he told the WSJ.
A spokesman for Disney told the WSJ: ‘Mr. Van Andel’s claim that he did not engage in the misconduct that led to his termination is firmly refuted by the company’s review of his company-issued device.’
Van Andel’s siblings started a GoFundMe to help him and his family through the ordeal.
‘This criminal has taken the most extreme measures to destroy his career, his finances, his reputation, and every aspect of his personal well-being,’ the page’s description reads.
‘The extent of these malicious acts, which are continuing to unfold, affect the life and security of not only himself but those of his family and two young children.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .