DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Former Agilent Technologies employee pleads guilty to damaging ex-employer’s computers

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Dissent

Kenneth Kezeor pleaded guilty Tuesday to intentionally damaging a protected computer by attacking a corporate computer application of his former employer. The plea was announced by United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

Kezeor, 47, of Felton, Calif., acknowledged he was hired by a Silicon Valley company on July 7, 1997, and worked for the company and its successor until he was terminated on October 31, 2012, as part of a reduction in force. Prior to his termination, Kezeor worked as the system administrator for a customer support application and therefore had high-level access to the application and the associated database.

The name of his former employer was not disclosed in the government’s press release, but Kezeor’s LinkedIn profile indicates that from 1997-2010, he was Manager of NMR Tech Support for Varian, Inc.. Varian was purchased by Agilent Technologies in May, 2010. From then until his termination, Kezeor listed his title as Manager of NMR & MRI Tech Support for Agilent Technologies.

According to court documents and the plea agreement,  Kezeor admitted that, for about four months after his termination, he used his administrator accounts to intentionally cause damage to his former employer’s application by transmitting information, codes, and commands. Kezeor also admitted to using the account of another employee to cause damage to the application. Kezeor’s transmissions impaired the availability and integrity of data, programs, systems, or information.

Kezeor was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 30, 2014. He was charged with one count of intentional transmission causing damage to a protected computer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(A); and one count of intentional access to a protected computer recklessly causing damage, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030(a)(5)(B). On April 28, 2016, the grand jury handed down a superseding indictment adding an additional charge of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A. Pursuant to yesterday’s agreement, Kezeor pleaded guilty to a single count of intentional transmission causing damage to a protected computer.

Kezeor, who remains free on bond, is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2016.

Category: Business SectorInsiderU.S.

Post navigation

← Morgan Stanley Fined Over Inadequate Security Tied to Galen Marsh Data Breach
LeakedSource uploads data set with 32,888,300 Twitter credentials →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Lower Merion School District says a data breach was caused by a computer glitch
  • After $1 Million Ransom Demand, Virgin Islands Lottery Restores Operations Without Paying Hackers
  • Junior Defence Contractor Arrested For Leaking Indian Naval Secrets To Suspected Pakistani Spies
  • Mysterious leaker GangExposed outs Conti kingpins in massive ransomware data dump
  • Resource: HoganLovells Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Guide 2025
  • Class action settlement following ransomware attack will cost Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center about $52 million
  • Comstar LLC agrees to corrective action plan and fine to settle HHS OCR charges
  • Australian ransomware victims now must tell the government if they pay up
  • U.S. Sanctions Cloud Provider ‘Funnull’ as Top Source of ‘Pig Butchering’ Scams
  • Victoria’s Secret takes down website after security incident

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Fears Grow Over ICE’s Reach Into Schools
  • Resource: HoganLovells Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity Guide 2025
  • She Got an Abortion. So A Texas Cop Used 83,000 Cameras to Track Her Down.
  • Why AI May Be Listening In on Your Next Doctor’s Appointment
  • Watch out for activist judges trying to deprive us of our rights to safe reproductive healthcare
  • Nebraska Bans Minor Social Media Accounts Without Parental Consent
  • Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.