Former Disney worker allegedly hacked menus, changed peanut allergy info

A erstwhile Disney World worker is accused of hacking into package utilized by nan taxable park's restaurants and changing allergen information, removing warnings for group pinch peanut allergies. 

Micahel Scheuer, who had been fired successful June, is accused of utilizing his individual machine to hack nan paper strategy and target 14 Disney employees' machine accounts — allegedly moreover visiting nan residence of 1 of nan victims, according to an affidavit by FBI Special Agent Timothy Callinan. 

Authorities judge nary customers were harmed.

Ring footage from a Disney employee's location shows Michael Scheuer astatine their beforehand doorway aft nan FBI executed a hunt warrant. Scheuer is accused of targeting 14 Disney labor successful a denial-of-service attack. via FBI

Disney became alert of problems pinch nan paper package it uses, called Menu Creator, which is owned by a 3rd party, successful July, and wished nan issues were from unauthorized machine intrusions.

They suspected Scheuer, who was fired for what nan institution described arsenic misconduct, was responsible for nan hack. Scheuer had worked arsenic a Menu Production Manager and his termination was "not amicable," according to nan tribunal documents. The institution provided nan FBI pinch accusation astir Scheuer, who had elaborate knowledge of nan Menu Creator software.

Over a play of 3 months, nan affidavit alleges Scheuer changed nan accusation connected respective menus owned and operated by Disney. In immoderate cases, he altered nan value of items and changed paper fonts to symbols alternatively of letters, and he besides allegedly altered nan QR codes connected immoderate menus to nonstop users to an anti-Israel website, according to nan affidavit.

Scheuer allegedly made respective changes that threatened nationalist health, investigators opportunity —  adding accusation to immoderate paper items to explanation them arsenic safe for group pinch peanut allergies to eat, moreover though nan items could beryllium deadly to group who are allergic to peanuts.

According to nan affidavit, it is believed that nan menus pinch nan altered QR codes and allergen accusation were were identified and were not shipped to nan restaurants. 

When Disney discovered nan hack, nan institution reset passwords, preventing further intrusion. 

The FBI executed a hunt warrant astatine Scheuer's location connected Sept. 23 and seized his computers, uncovering grounds tying him to nan hacks, nan affidavit says.

Scheuer denied wrongdoing and claimed Disney was attempting to framework him.

The FBI besides allegedly recovered a "dox" files connected 1 of his computers that included addresses, emails, logins, family accusation and different individual specifications of 14 Disney employees, immoderate of whom were progressive successful his termination. Investigators said he continuously attempted to login to their institution accounts, locking them retired — a alleged denial-of-service attack. 

After his computers were seized, nan FBI says Scheuer visited nan location of 1 of nan labor who was targeted, and was captured connected video from nan homeowner's Ring information camera.

In a connection to CBS News, Scheuer's attorney, David Haas, said nan "criminal allegations admit that nary 1 was injured aliases harmed by immoderate paper alterations."

Haas said Scheuer has a disability, which impacted his employment astatine Disney, and claims a aesculapian arena resulted successful him being suspended. 

"Disney past grounded to respond to his inquiries astir why he was suspended and past his suspension was inexplicably changed to a termination," Haas said successful nan statement. "Disney refused to supply a consequence arsenic to why he was fired and made nary accommodations for him. He subsequently revenge an EEOC complaint. I look guardant to vigorously presenting my client's broadside of nan story."