Ex-Google engineers accused of helping themselves to chip security secrets
(2026/02/20)
- Reference: 1771584349
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/02/20/google_ip_theft_charges/
- Source link:
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 [1]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.
[2]
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. Soroor Ghandali is accused of transferring numerous files as well, with prosecutors claiming the data later turned up on personal devices and other systems connected to the group.
[3]
[4]
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.
[5]Infosec exec sold eight zero-day exploit kits to Russia, says DoJ
[6]Ex-Googler nailed for stealing AI secrets for Chinese startups
[7]TSMC lawsuit claims former exec is probably leaking secrets to Intel
[8]NetApp claims ex-CTO built a secret cloud platform then sold it to VAST Data
Google didn't respond to The Register 's questions, but told [9]Bloomberg that it caught wind of the alleged activity through its own internal defenses before bringing in the feds.
"We have enhanced safeguards to protect our confidential information and immediately alerted law enforcement after discovering this incident," said a Google spokesperson.
[10]
Law enforcement officials were keen to frame the case as more than just an internal corporate spat. "The alleged actions outlined in this indictment reflect a calculated betrayal of trust by individuals accused of stealing trade secrets from the very tech companies that employed them. According to the allegations, the method in which confidential data was transferred by the defendants involved deliberate steps to evade detection and conceal their identities," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.
"Protecting Silicon Valley innovation and defending the groundbreaking technologies that drive our economy and national security is a top priority for the FBI. We will continue to work with our private sector partners to hold accountable anyone who seeks to unlawfully exploit American ingenuity," he added. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/silicon-valley-engineers-charged-stealing-trade-secrets-leading-tech-companies-and
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
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[5] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/15/exl3harris_exec_sold_8_zeroday/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/30/google_engineer_convicted_ai_secrets_china/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/27/tsmc_intel_trade_secrets_case/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/netapp_cto_lawsuit/
[9] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-20/ex-google-engineers-charged-with-stealing-phone-processor-tech
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
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 [1]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.
[2]
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. Soroor Ghandali is accused of transferring numerous files as well, with prosecutors claiming the data later turned up on personal devices and other systems connected to the group.
[3]
[4]
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.
[5]Infosec exec sold eight zero-day exploit kits to Russia, says DoJ
[6]Ex-Googler nailed for stealing AI secrets for Chinese startups
[7]TSMC lawsuit claims former exec is probably leaking secrets to Intel
[8]NetApp claims ex-CTO built a secret cloud platform then sold it to VAST Data
Google didn't respond to The Register 's questions, but told [9]Bloomberg that it caught wind of the alleged activity through its own internal defenses before bringing in the feds.
"We have enhanced safeguards to protect our confidential information and immediately alerted law enforcement after discovering this incident," said a Google spokesperson.
[10]
Law enforcement officials were keen to frame the case as more than just an internal corporate spat. "The alleged actions outlined in this indictment reflect a calculated betrayal of trust by individuals accused of stealing trade secrets from the very tech companies that employed them. According to the allegations, the method in which confidential data was transferred by the defendants involved deliberate steps to evade detection and conceal their identities," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.
"Protecting Silicon Valley innovation and defending the groundbreaking technologies that drive our economy and national security is a top priority for the FBI. We will continue to work with our private sector partners to hold accountable anyone who seeks to unlawfully exploit American ingenuity," he added. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/silicon-valley-engineers-charged-stealing-trade-secrets-leading-tech-companies-and
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/15/exl3harris_exec_sold_8_zeroday/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/30/google_engineer_convicted_ai_secrets_china/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/27/tsmc_intel_trade_secrets_case/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/18/netapp_cto_lawsuit/
[9] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-20/ex-google-engineers-charged-with-stealing-phone-processor-tech
[10] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/systems&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aZg-zs7BH6GFd-7mXQbndAAAAMA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/