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Former Disney worker allegedly tampered with menus, changed information about peanut allergy
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Former Disney worker allegedly tampered with menus, changed information about peanut allergy

A former Disney World employee is accused of hacking software used by theme park restaurants and changing allergen information, removing warnings for people with peanut allergies.

Michael Scheuer, who was fired in June, is accused of using his personal computer to hack into the menu system and target the computer accounts of 14 Disney employees — even visiting the residence of one of the victims, according to a statement on own responsibility of the FBI special agent. Timothy Callinan.

Authorities believe no customers were injured.

Footage of the ring from a Disney employee's home shows Michael Scheuer at their door after the FBI executed a search warrant. Scheuer is accused of targeting 14 Disney employees in a denial-of-service attack. / Credit: via FBIFootage of the ring from a Disney employee's home shows Michael Scheuer at their door after the FBI executed a search warrant. Scheuer is accused of targeting 14 Disney employees in a denial-of-service attack. / Credit: via FBI

Footage of the ring from a Disney employee’s home shows Michael Scheuer at their door after the FBI executed a search warrant. Scheuer is accused of targeting 14 Disney employees in a denial-of-service attack. / Credit: via FBI

Disney became aware of problems with the menu software it uses, called Menu Creator, which is owned by a third party, in July and determined that the problems were caused by unauthorized computer intrusions.

They suspected Scheuer, who was fired for what the company described as misconduct, was responsible for the hack. Scheuer had worked as a menu production manager and his termination was “not amicable,” according to court documents. The company provided information to the FBI about Scheuer, who had detailed knowledge of the Menu Creator software.

Over a three-month period, the affidavit alleges Scheuer changed information on several Disney-owned and operated menus. In some cases, he altered the price of items and changed menu fonts to symbols instead of letters, and also allegedly altered QR codes on some menus to direct users to an anti-Israel website, according to the affidavit .

Scheuer allegedly made several changes that threatened public health, investigators say — adding information to some menu items to label them as safe for people with peanut allergies, even though the products could be deadly to people with peanut allergies.

According to the affidavit, menus with altered QR codes and allergen information are believed to have been identified and not shipped to restaurants.

When Disney discovered the hack, the company reset passwords, preventing further intrusions.

The FBI executed a search warrant at Scheuer’s home on Sept. 23 and seized his computers, finding evidence linking him to the hacks, the affidavit said.

Scheuer denied wrongdoing and claimed Disney was trying to defraud him.

The FBI also allegedly found a “dox” file on one of his computers that included addresses, emails, logins, family information and other personal details of 14 Disney employees, some of whom have were involved in his dismissal. Investigators said he continually tried to log into their company accounts, blocking them – a so-called denial-of-service attack.

After his computers were seized, the FBI says Scheuer visited the home of one of the employees who was targeted and was filmed by the homeowner’s Ring security camera.

In a statement to CBS News, Scheuer’s attorney, David Haas, said “the criminal charges acknowledge that no one was harmed or injured by any menu changes.”

Haas said Scheuer has a disability that affected his employment at Disney and claims a medical event led to his suspension.

“Disney did not respond to his questions about why he was suspended, and then his suspension was inexplicably changed to a termination,” Haas said in the statement. “Disney refused to provide an answer as to why he was fired and made no accommodations for him. She later filed an EEOC complaint. I look forward to energetically presenting my client’s side of the story.”

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