Software Developer’s Revenge: How One “Kill Switch” Crashed the Company Party
Davis Lu, a former software developer for Eaton Corporation, went down the rabbit hole of sabotage after a demotion. He unleashed malware with infinite loops and a “kill switch” disguised as “IsDLEnabledinAD.” This digital mischief left thousands locked out and cost the company a small fortune.
Hot Take:
Imagine getting demoted at work and instead of quietly updating your LinkedIn, you decide to go full villain with custom malware and a “kill switch.” Davis Lu, you’ve certainly redefined the term “career switcher,” but you might want to rethink the strategy if you’re hoping for a glowing reference. Your action-packed exit from Eaton Corporation might be worthy of a Hollywood script, but in the real world, it’s a one-way ticket to a courtroom drama. Next time, maybe just take a deep breath and a vacation instead of the entire company’s systems down with you.
Key Points:
- Davis Lu was a software developer for Eaton Corporation, a power management company, from 2007 to 2019.
- Following a demotion due to corporate restructuring, Lu was found guilty of sabotaging the company’s systems with custom malware.
- Lu’s malware included an infinite loop designed to crash servers and a “kill switch” triggered by the disabling of his account.
- The “kill switch” led to a massive system lockout affecting thousands of employees.
- Lu faces up to 10 years in prison for causing intentional damage to protected computers.