Georgia Tech Settles $875K Cybersecurity Case Involving Astrolavos Lab
Georgia Tech is facing a significant settlement over alleged cybersecurity violations in its Defense Department contracts. The case involves the Astrolavos Lab, which conducted sensitive cyberdefense research, and raises concerns about the university's compliance with cybersecurity regulations.
The lab, led by Dr. Wenke Lee, was accused of not using anti-virus and anti-malware tools on its devices, potentially exposing sensitive government information to cyber threats. U.S. Attorney Theodore Hertzberg emphasized the importance of defense contractors' adherence to cyber regulations in safeguarding such data.
In 2019, Georgia Tech suffered a data breach that compromised the records of 1.3 million people, highlighting the real-world consequences of lax cybersecurity measures. The breach may have been linked to the alleged non-compliance at Astrolavos Lab.
The settlement, totaling $875,000, includes a payment of $201,250 to Christopher Craig and Kyle Koza, former members of Georgia Tech's Cybersecurity Team who initially filed the lawsuit. Manos Antonakakis, co-director of Astrolavos Lab, had opposed the use of antivirus software on the company's computers, contributing to the alleged violations.
Georgia Tech's settlement serves as a stark reminder to industry about the importance of prioritizing DoD cybersecurity compliance. The Justice Department's Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative aims to punish government contractors who violate cybersecurity regulations, as seen in this case. Despite Georgia Tech admitting to not implementing a system cybersecurity plan until nearly four years after the first contract, the full details and implications of the case remain under investigation.
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