Former Disney employee sentenced to three years in prison for menu hacking exploit
Hackin' Disney: Ex-Employee Gets Three-Year Stint for Menu Meddling
Mike Scheuer, a disgruntled 41-year-old ex-employee of Disney World, has landed himself three years behind bars for hacking into the theme park's menu system. Here are the juicy details of this audacious act.
The Naughty Deeds
As a menu production manager, Scheuer orchestrated a series of mischievous acts after his job termination in June 2021. He gleefully altered allergen information on food items, falsely displaying that some dishes were safe for customers with allergies they weren't [1][2].
To add insult to injury, he spruced up menu items with colorful language and tweaked wine region descriptions to the locations of recent mass shootings [2][3]. Furthermore, he decreased the price of some menu items, shaved off portions, and even changed fonts for good measure [1][3].
In an extra twist, Scheuer bombarded Disney staff with denial-of-service attacks to lock them out of their accounts [3]. He even paid a late-night visit to one of his aggrieved colleagues, giving a profound thumbs-up on their front porch [3].
The Law's Not So Magic
Faced with the weight of his actions, Scheuer pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft in January 2022 [3][4]. He was sentenced to 12 months for computer fraud and 24 months for identity theft, with the prison sentences to be served consecutively [1]. After serving his time, he'll be under supervision for three years for the first count and one year for the second, with potential concurrent service [1].
To make amends for his actions, Scheuer was ordered to cough up approximately $687,778 to $690,000 in restitution to Disney [2][4]. His attorney, David Haas, insists that Scheuer is remorseful and regretful for his actions [1][3].
The Silent Mouse
Disney chose to keep mum when contacted for comment [2]. However, it's clear that Scheuer's wicked tricks were promptly detected and thwarted, preventing them from ever reaching the public eye [3].
Cyber Crimes and the Un-Happy Ending
This case underscores the risks of cybercrime in our interconnected world. The FBI's investigation and partnership with the private sector serve as a reminder of their commitment to combating these threats [3][4]. No matter the motive, hacking into systems and tampering with sensitive information will always lead to serious consequences.
- Mike Scheuer's mischievous acts extended to altering health information on Disney World's menu items, deceitfully labeling some dishes safe for customers with allergies they weren't [1][2].
- Scheuer's cybercrime extended beyond menu meddling; he also targeted Disney staff with denial-of-service attacks to lock them out of their accounts [3].
- This 'General-news' story about a disgruntled ex-employee's crimes and justice case in Orlando [3][4], highlights the importance of combating crime-and-justice issues on a broader scale.
- The ramifications of Scheuer's actions were significant, as he was ordered to pay approximately $687,778 to $690,000 in restitution for health-related mishaps his alterations may have caused [2][4].
