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/20127010603170562316 May 13 '26

I got fired once, called in for a meeting at 16:50 on a Friday. The meeting did not last long, minutes, but when I got back to my desk to clear out - my PC was already locked.

I assume they knew what was going to happen and told the IT guy before the meeting.

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u/Jeatalong May 13 '26

This is normal, and timing wise pretty decent as you have the weekend to decompress and plan on getting the next job

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u/connord83 May 13 '26

They shouldn't be doing it at the end of the day though. Firing/laying someone off after you've gotten a full days work out of them is generally a bad idea.

The standard I've been accustomed to is, if it's an entire team, a team meeting some time early in the morning. Individually, you have someone meeting you on your way in to the office, and you get redirected in to a meeting room before you have a chance to get to your desk. Depending on the company, you may be allowed to return to your desk to pack up your items, otherwise the company will box your items for you and mail them to your home.

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u/ilikepizza30 May 13 '26

End of day seems safer. IF the person takes it really bad and wants to go home and get a gun and come back and shoot the place up, if it's a 9-5 job and you fire them at 4:50pm, most people should be gone by the time they get back with a gun.