Fired Disney employee accused of hacking restaurant menus to alter allergy info
Oct 31, 2024
A former Disney World employee was arrested by the FBI after allegedly hacking computer systems to add swear words, change prices and alter allergy information on restaurant menus after he was fired from the theme park.
Suspect Michael Scheuer worked at Walt Disney World as a menu production manager for the company’s entire restaurant portfolio. He was fired from the park in June for unspecified misconduct. According to the complaint filed against Scheuer, the termination was contentious.
After being let go, Scheuer allegedly maintained access to software which he used to make “potentially fatal” changes to the menus for three months.
“Namely, the threat actor manipulated the allergen information on menus by adding information to some allergen notifications that indicated certain menu items were safe for individuals with peanut allergies, when in fact they could be deadly to those with peanut allergies,” the complaint reads.
Federal agents searched his home last month and seized several electronic devices, at which point they learned he had not only conducted cyberattacks against his former company but had gathered personal information on some employees, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
David Haas, an attorney for Scheuer, said the menus never made it to the public as the alleged changes were flagged before being shipped to the restaurants.
Disney confirmed the changes were caught before the menus were sent out, but said the cyberattacks cost the company at least $150,000.
“The allegations acknowledge that no one was injured or harmed. I look forward to vigorously presenting my client’s side of the story,” Haas said, referring to his client’s mental health issues, which may have played a part in his original firing.
Scheuer denied any wrongdoing when his home was searched and plans to plead not guilty once a formal indictment has been filed, his attorney said Thursday. He’s currently being held in jail until a bond hearing scheduled for next week.