US Hacking Tool Boss Stole and Sold Exploits To Russian Broker That Could Target Millions of Devices, DOJ Says (techcrunch.com)
(Thursday February 12, 2026 @04:00AM (msmash)
from the they-paid-the-most dept.)
- Reference: 0180778104
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/02/12/0615244/us-hacking-tool-boss-stole-and-sold-exploits-to-russian-broker-that-could-target-millions-of-devices-doj-says
- Source link: https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/doj-says-trenchant-boss-sold-exploits-to-russian-broker-capable-of-accessing-millions-of-computers-and-devices/
Federal prosecutors have revealed that Peter Williams, the former general manager of U.S. defense contractor L3Harris's hacking tools division Trenchant, [1]sold eight stolen software exploits to a Russian broker whose customers -- including the Russian government -- could have used them to access "millions of computers and devices around the world."
Williams, a 39-year-old Australian national, pleaded guilty in October and admitted to earning more than $1.3 million in cryptocurrency from the sales between 2022 and 2025. In a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday ahead of his anticipated February 24 sentencing in a Washington, D.C., federal court, the Justice Department asked the judge for nine years in prison, $35 million in restitution, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Prosecutors described the unnamed Russian buyer -- believed to be Operation Zero, which publicly claims to sell only to the Russian government -- as "one of the world's most nefarious exploit brokers." Williams chose it because, by his own admission, "he knew they paid the most." He also oversaw the wrongful firing of a subordinate who was blamed for the theft.
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/doj-says-trenchant-boss-sold-exploits-to-russian-broker-capable-of-accessing-millions-of-computers-and-devices/
Williams, a 39-year-old Australian national, pleaded guilty in October and admitted to earning more than $1.3 million in cryptocurrency from the sales between 2022 and 2025. In a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday ahead of his anticipated February 24 sentencing in a Washington, D.C., federal court, the Justice Department asked the judge for nine years in prison, $35 million in restitution, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
Prosecutors described the unnamed Russian buyer -- believed to be Operation Zero, which publicly claims to sell only to the Russian government -- as "one of the world's most nefarious exploit brokers." Williams chose it because, by his own admission, "he knew they paid the most." He also oversaw the wrongful firing of a subordinate who was blamed for the theft.
[1] https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/doj-says-trenchant-boss-sold-exploits-to-russian-broker-capable-of-accessing-millions-of-computers-and-devices/
Better hope he saved enough... (Score:2)
by abulafia ( 7826 )
to [1]buy [notus.org] a pardon.
Dude seems like a real shitbag.
[1] https://www.notus.org/money/pardon-lobbyists-president-donald-trump
Re: (Score:2)
by martin-boundary ( 547041 )
When the president leads the way, others follow....
Double standards? (Score:2)
by djgl ( 6202552 )
And what Cellebrite does is ok because they are selling to the US?
Or because they didn't steal from the US?
Double standard (Score:2)
by RegistrationIsDumb83 ( 6517138 )
Dangerous enough to fine someone millions, but not enough to fix, I guess.
Amateur (Score:2)
by DrMrLordX ( 559371 )
Who takes that sort of risk for only $1.3 million?
What a headline (Score:2)
If it requires effort to be parsed and understood, it's not a good headline. Are native English speakers finding it easy to understand? What even is a hacking tool boss?
Re: (Score:2)
It was a smooth and easy read for me. I've seen much more awkward headlines, this is fine.