U.S. defense contractor who sold hacking tools to Russian broker ordered to pay $10 million to former employers | TechCrunch

"On Wednesday, a judge ordered Williams to pay that amount in restitution on top of the $1.3 million he had already been ordered to pay to L3Harris. Williams, a 39-year-old Australian citizen who previously worked in one of Australia's intelligence agencies, was until last year the general manager of Trenchant. Born out of the acquisition of two sister startups, Trenchant is L3Harris' division that develops advanced spyware and hacking tools and sells them to the U.S. government and its allies in the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance, a coalition of five English-speaking nations that share classified intelligence with one another."

"Last year, Williams was arrested and accused of stealing seven unspecified trade secrets - almost certainly cyber exploits, which is code that hijacks software vulnerabilities, and surveillance technology - from Trenchant and then selling them to Operation Zero. The Russian firm that acts as a broker, buying and selling hacking tools, and it says it works exclusively with the Russian government and local companies. Williams pleaded guilty and was sentenced to more than seven years in prison."

"Williams made $1.3 million selling the trade secrets, which he used to buy luxury watches, a house near Washington D.C., and family vacations. Trenchant told prosecutors that it suffered losses of up to $35 million due to Willia"

A judge ordered Peter Williams to pay $10 million in restitution to L3Harris, in addition to $1.3 million already ordered. Williams led L3Harris’ Trenchant division, which develops advanced spyware and hacking tools sold to the U.S. and Five Eyes allies. Williams, an Australian citizen and former intelligence agency employee, was arrested after allegations that he stole trade secrets, likely cyber exploits and surveillance technology, from Trenchant. He pleaded guilty and received a prison sentence of more than seven years. Prosecutors said he sold the stolen secrets to Operation Zero, a Russian firm that brokers hacking tools for the Russian government. Williams used proceeds to buy luxury items and a home, while Trenchant reported losses up to $35 million.

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