Contractors Accused of Deleting Government Databases, Attempting AI-Assisted Cover-Up

The Department of Justice has charged two brothers, Muneeb Akhter and Sohaib Akhter, with a comically inept attempt to steal and destroy government records. This incident occurred just minutes after they were fired from their federal contractor jobs, a decade after their previous conviction for hacking U.S. State Department systems.

On February 18, shortly after their termination at approximately 4:55 pm, the brothers allegedly began attempting to access their former employer's systems and federal government databases. Although one brother's account access was quickly terminated, the other managed to access a government agency's database stored on the employer's server. He then issued commands to prevent other users from connecting or making changes, followed by a command that deleted 96 databases. Many of these contained sensitive investigative files and records related to Freedom of Information Act matters.

Realizing their lack of expertise in covering their tracks, the men reportedly turned to an AI chat tool. One minute after deleting Department of Homeland Security information, Muneeb Akhter allegedly queried an AI tool, "how do i clear system logs from SQL servers after deleting databases." Soon after, he asked, "how do you clear all event and application logs from Microsoft windows server 2012."

The indictment, unsealed recently, provides sufficient detail to suggest their attempts to conceal their actions were unsuccessful. It remains unclear whether this failure was due to inadequate AI instructions or the brothers' inability to follow them. Prosecutors also obtained records of their discussions in the days following the incident, where they planned to remove incriminating evidence from their homes. Three days later, they allegedly wiped their employer-issued laptops by reinstalling the operating system.

This isn't the first time the Akhter brothers have faced charges related to hacking government systems and stealing documents. In 2015, they pleaded guilty to conspiring to hack the State Department and a private company, stealing sensitive passport and visa information along with personal data of co-workers. They later attempted to install an electronic collection device within a State Department building to maintain persistent access. Muneeb Akhter subsequently hacked a database maintained by a data aggregation company he worked for, stealing information to benefit a tech company they owned and even planting code to manipulate an online contest in his favor. Muneeb Akhter served 39 months in prison, while Sohaib Akhter received a 24-month sentence, each followed by three years of supervised release.

The recent indictment charges Muneeb Akhter with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and destroy records, two counts of computer fraud, theft of U.S. government records, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. Sohaib Akhter faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and destroy records, and computer fraud for trafficking passwords. If convicted, Muneeb Akhter could face a mandatory minimum of two years for each aggravated identity theft count and a maximum of 45 years for the remaining charges. Sohaib Akhter faces a maximum of six years.

The allegations paint a picture of significant operational security failures. The fact that the brothers, despite their prior convictions, were granted clearances and positions with access to sensitive government information raises serious questions. Furthermore, the alleged failure of their employer to immediately confiscate laptops and terminate work accounts upon firing suggests a critical lack of basic security protocols. It is also notable that Muneeb Akhter allegedly sought to wipe a machine running Windows Server 2012, an operating system that has been unsupported for over two years, indicating a further lapse in judgment or awareness. Their reliance on AI to compensate for fundamental database and laptop skills needed to cover up such a brazen act truly highlights their ineptitude as criminals.