(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(By: Asim Siddiqui, Washington DC)
In a stunning breach of federal cybersecurity, twin brothers from Virginia — Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter — have been arrested for allegedly sabotaging dozens of U.S. government databases. Federal prosecutors say the brothers carried out an extensive digital attack after being terminated from their jobs with a government contractor, exploiting their former system access to inflict widespread damage.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Akhter brothers illegally accessed multiple federal agency systems and wiped out critical data, including Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) records, investigative documents, audit logs, and sensitive personal information. The indictment states that the pair used sophisticated tools, including AI-powered scripts, to mask their activity and erase evidence of their intrusion.
Investigators say the scale of destruction is staggering: more than 96 government databases were wiped out. Many contained essential and irreplaceable records that federal agencies may never fully recover. The loss has disrupted operations, delayed public-information requests, and created significant vulnerabilities across several departments.
Federal officials describe this as one of the most serious insider cyberattacks in recent memory. Because the twins previously had legitimate access through their employment, they allegedly exploited outdated security protocols to re-enter government systems even after their termination. Cybersecurity experts warn that the incident highlights a long-standing national security risk — insiders with technical expertise can inflict far greater damage than foreign adversaries.
But this is not the brothers’ first encounter with the law. In fact, they have a history of computer-related crimes.
In 2015, both Muneeb and Sohaib Akhter were investigated and convicted for hacking into the U.S. State Department and a private company’s systems.
Muneeb was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison.
Sohaib received 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
These convictions were issued by the Department of Justice.
Despite their criminal past, both were later re-employed as federal contractors — a serious oversight now under scrutiny. Their renewed access to sensitive systems ultimately enabled the destructive sabotage for which they have been arrested again. Federal agencies and lawmakers are expected to face tough questions about how previously convicted offenders regained access to critical government networks.
The Akhter brothers now face a new series of charges, including computer fraud, destruction of federal records, unauthorized access to protected systems, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted on all counts, they could spend decades behind bars.
Although prosecutors have not publicly identified a motive, court documents suggest the sabotage may have been retaliatory, fueled by anger over their job loss. The investigation remains active, and federal officials are still attempting to assess the full scope of compromised and destroyed data.
This case is expected to intensify calls for a major overhaul of federal cybersecurity practices, stricter vetting of contractors, continuous monitoring of system access, and immediate revocation of credentials for individuals leaving sensitive positions. Experts say the incident is a wake-up call: without aggressive reforms, insider threats will remain one of America’s most dangerous vulnerabilities.
As agencies scramble to recover from the unprecedented damage, the Akhter case stands as a stark reminder of how fragile critical government infrastructure can be — especially when the attack comes from within its own ranks.
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