Ex-Microsoft Employee Arrested for Giving Out Code
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iStock/Thinkstock(SEATTLE) — Leaked photos and prototypes aren’t uncommon in the tech world, but one ex-Microsoft employee may have taken it too far. Alex Kibkalo, a former software architect for the company, was arrested on Wednesday and faces federal charges of stealing trade secrets.
Kibkalo allegedly leaked code for both Windows 8 and a proprietary piece of piracy-combating software to a French technology blogger in 2012, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Microsoft officials have said that the leaks may have been Kibkalo’s reaction to a poor performance review from the company.
Company investigators reportedly recovered a chat exchange between Kibkalo and the unnamed blogger. When told by the blogger that the leaks would be “pretty illegal,” Kibkalo is said to have replied “I know :),” according to the Post-Intelligencer.
After receiving the code, the blogger forwarded it to a Microsoft employee to verify if it was real or not, investigators said. From there, it was passed on to a Microsoft executive, which prompted them to look into the matter.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment.
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