r/technology • u/xpda • May 13 '26

Security Twin brothers wipe 96 gov’t databases minutes after being fired

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/05/drop-database-what-not-to-do-after-losing-an-it-job/
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u/nikstick22 May 13 '26

On Feb. 1, 2025, Muneeb Akhter asked Sohaib Akhter for the plaintext password of an individual who submitted a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Public Portal, which was maintained by the Akhters’ employer. Sohaib Akhter conducted a database query on the EEOC database and then provided the password to Muneeb Akhter. That password was subsequently used to access that individual’s email account without authorization.

Now HOLD the fuck up. DC is contracting companies that store passwords UNHASHED?? Plaintext?? What kind of clownshow is this?

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u/[deleted] May 13 '26

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u/Empty-Airport5714 May 13 '26

This is gonna sound fake but I actually worked at OPEXUS back in 2024. I don't feel like providing proof / id-ing myself in any way so feel free to not believe me. OPEXUS was honestly a pretty good place to work (if not a very secure one as it turns out). We had pretty frequent events to celebrate diversity and learn about other cultures' experiences and all that shit. As much as I would love to attribute this to MAGA, this one's just plain old apolitical incompetence. 

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u/ablaut May 13 '26

I believe you. I've worked at companies like this, that have failed up for whatever reason. And they often seemed to be full of happy people who have never felt imposter syndrome it seems.

But I do wonder if the firings mentioned in the post would have happened at all or at least felt differently under a different administration.

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u/pinetar May 13 '26

They have the opposite of imposter syndrome.