Silicon Valley Engineers Face Espionage Charges for Stealing Google Secrets

• Three Silicon Valley engineers indicted for stealing trade secrets from Google and other tech firms.
• The defendants allegedly transferred sensitive data, including processor security and cryptography details, to Iran.
• Google detected the theft through routine security monitoring and alerted law enforcement.
• The accused face up to 10 years for each trade secret charge and 20 years for obstruction of justice.

Damn, They Messed with the Wrong Guy

Alright, listen up. Duke Nukem here, wading through the swamps of Silicon Valley intrigue. Seems some bright sparks thought they could outsmart Google and swipe top-secret tech for Iran. Talk about biting the hand that feeds ya. These three engineers from San Jose, Samaneh Ghandali, Soroor Ghandali, and Mohammadjavad Khosravi are facing some serious heat for allegedly stealing trade secrets. They’re looking at potential prison time. "Hail to the king, baby," and the king doesn't like thieves, especially not ones messing with high-tech secrets. These guys thought they could pull a fast one, but they forgot who they were dealing with. Google's security is tighter than my one-liners.

From Silicon Valley to Tehran The Ultimate Betrayal

The plot thickens like a cheap cigar. These Iranian nationals, including one U.S. citizen and a legal permanent resident, are accused of exploiting their positions at major tech firms. They allegedly snagged hundreds of confidential files related to processor security and cryptography, then shipped 'em off to Iran. It seems a lot like a game, and these guys are about to lose. The Feds say the trio worked at companies developing mobile computer processors. They lifted materials related to processor security and cryptography. One of the companies affected was Google, where the Ghandali sisters once worked. And this Khosravi character? He was at a company making system-on-chip (SoC) platforms, you know, like Qualcomm's Snapdragon. The indictment says Snapdragon SoC trade secrets had independent economic value because the info wasn't generally known. If you're interested to dive deeper into the world of corporate trouble, check out this article: CSL Shares Nosedive After CEO Exit and Profit Plunge.

Google's Got Eyes Everywhere

Google's security systems caught onto this caper when they flagged Samaneh's activity. Turns out, they had the whole operation under surveillance. Google enhanced safeguards to protect its confidential information and immediately alerted law enforcement after discovering this incident. As the company spokesman José Castañeda said, Google has measures to protect its trade secrets, including restricting employees' access to sensitive information, two-factor authentication for work-related Google accounts, and logging file transfers to third-party platforms such as Telegram.

Sneaky Tactics and Cover-Ups

These guys weren't exactly criminal masterminds. Authorities say the defendants routed stolen files through a third-party communications platform to channels bearing each of their first names, before copying the material to personal devices, each other's work devices, and to Iran. Seriously? That's about as subtle as me walking into a library with a rocket launcher. After Google revoked Samaneh's access, she allegedly signed an affidavit falsely claiming she hadn't shared confidential info. But guess what? A personal laptop linked to her and Khosravi was used to search for ways to delete communications and research how long mobile carriers retain message records. "Nobody steals our freedom." And nobody steals Google's secrets either.

Photos, Lies, and International Flights

The couple allegedly photographed hundreds of computer screens containing confidential information, trying to bypass digital monitoring. On the night before they traveled to Iran in December 2023, Samaneh allegedly snapped about two dozen photos of Khosravi's work computer screen showing Company 2's trade secrets, including its Snapdragon SoCs. Prosecutors say that while in Iran, a device linked to Samaneh accessed those photos, and Khosravi accessed additional Company 2's proprietary information, like Snapdragon SoC hardware architecture. It's like they were trying to write a spy movie, but ended up in a courtroom drama. "Come get some," justice, that is.

Lock 'em Up and Throw Away the Key

If convicted, these three could be cooling their heels in the slammer for a long time. We're talking up to 10 years for each trade secret charge and up to 20 years for obstruction of justice, plus hefty fines. Seems like they messed with the wrong company, and now they're gonna pay the price. "Looks like it's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum." Except they're all out of bubblegum and they're all going to jail. This whole situation reminds me why I always say, "I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all outta bubblegum." It's a classic line, and it applies here. These guys tried to play dirty, and now they're facing the consequences. "Groovy."