Ex-Google engineers accused of swiping chip security secrets

"Two former Google engineers and a third alleged accomplice are facing federal charges after prosecutors accused them of swiping sensitive chip and security technology secrets and then trying to cover their tracks when the scheme began to unravel. According to the Department of Justice, sisters Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali, both former Google employees, along with Mohammadjavad Khosravi, who worked at another unnamed technology company, have been charged with conspiracy, theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice."

"The indictment alleges the trio misappropriated confidential information from multiple firms, including Google, spanning processor security and cryptography technologies, and that some of the data was exfiltrated to unauthorized locations, including Iran. The DOJ says that while working at Google, Samaneh Ghandali allegedly transferred hundreds of internal files, including trade secrets, to a third-party communications platform and shared them in channels associated with the defendants."

"Authorities say the alleged scheme went beyond simple downloads, with steps taken to hide the activity, including destroying records, submitting false statements, and even photographing screens rather than moving documents directly. Khosravi, who is married to Samaneh Ghandali, is accused of coordinating with the sisters and accessing sensitive information through his own unnamed employer. Google didn't respond to The Register's questions, but told Bloomberg that it caught wind of the alleged activity through its own internal defenses before bringing in the feds."

Two former Google engineers, Samaneh and Soroor Ghandali, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi face federal charges including conspiracy, theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors allege misappropriation of confidential information from multiple firms involving processor security and cryptography, with some data exfiltrated to unauthorized locations including Iran. Samaneh allegedly transferred hundreds of internal files to a third-party communications platform and shared them in channels tied to the defendants; Soroor is accused of transferring numerous files that later appeared on personal devices and other systems. Authorities allege steps to conceal activity, including destroying records, submitting false statements, and photographing screens instead of moving documents. Khosravi is accused of coordinating with the sisters and accessing sensitive information through his employer; Google detected the activity via internal defenses and alerted law enforcement.

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