Pentagon suffers critical security compromise

Communications systems at 17 US Air Force stations were on alert for an information leak after a Tennessee-based engineer stole $90,000 worth of federal radio technology. According to the court order Forbes was able to obtain, the breach could potentially have affected communications at the FBI and several Tennessee state agencies.

When law enforcement officers searched his home, they discovered a USB flash drive containing administrative passwords and system keys to gain administrator access to radio communications technology used by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), affecting the 17 stations mentioned above.

During the raid, investigators also discovered a computer running Motorola radio programming software, which contained the entire communications system at Arnold Air Force Base (AAFB), according to the warrant.

The alleged leaker, Jack Teixeira, was charged with six counts of withholding and transmitting classified information. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison on each count.