Santa Clarita Man Pleads Guilty to Stealing 1.1 TB of Disney Data Using AI Malware via Slack

A man in Santa Clarita, California, has pleaded guilty to hacking the personal computer of a Walt Disney Company employee and stealing approximately 1.1 terabytes of confidential data in 2024. The individual used malware concealed within an AI art generator to gain unauthorized access to the employee's device. Following the breach, he falsely claimed affiliation with a Russian hacking group and demanded payment. The stolen data was obtained through Disney's Slack platform, raising concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the company.