Intel Accuses Former Employee of Stealing 18,000 Confidential Files from Internal Database

A former Intel software engineer has been accused of stealing a massive cache of confidential company data following his termination earlier this year. According to a detailed report by OregonLive, the engineer, identified as Jinfeng Luo, allegedly downloaded approximately 18,000 internal files, which Intel claims contained “top secret” proprietary information.

Luo, who had been employed by Intel since 2014, was among those affected by the company’s most recent wave of layoffs. His employment officially ended on July 31, but in the days leading up to his departure, Intel alleges that he attempted to move sensitive data from his company-issued laptop to external storage devices.

According to the lawsuit filed by Intel, the company’s internal monitoring system initially blocked Luo’s first attempt to transfer files on July 23. However, five days later, he allegedly connected another external device and successfully downloaded roughly 18,000 confidential files from Intel’s internal database.

Following this suspicious activity, Intel launched an internal investigation that reportedly confirmed Luo’s involvement. The company subsequently filed a formal lawsuit seeking $250,000 in damages, as well as a court injunction to prevent any disclosure or distribution of the stolen material. Intel stated that it had made multiple attempts to contact Luo at his last known address in Seattle but received no response.

The contents of the stolen files have not been publicly disclosed, but Intel characterized them as containing “top secret” and potentially “highly sensitive” technical data. Given the scope of the alleged breach, the situation represents a serious security and intellectual property concern for the company, which continues to navigate a period of major restructuring and job reductions.

At this stage, no public statement has been issued by Luo or his legal representation. The case remains under review, and it is unclear whether the data in question has been shared externally or retained privately.

This incident follows a challenging year for Intel, which has undergone multiple rounds of layoffs as part of its corporate restructuring and cost optimization efforts. The company’s internal morale has reportedly suffered, and industry observers suggest that the layoffs have caused discontent among both current and departing employees.

If Intel’s allegations are proven true, the breach could have far-reaching implications for corporate data security policies and internal access control mechanisms, particularly at a time when technology firms are under increasing pressure to safeguard their intellectual property from insider threats.

 
Do you think Intel’s internal data protection systems are sufficient to prevent insider threats, or does this incident expose deeper vulnerabilities within corporate security practices? Share your opinion below.