Security being increased at Baltimore city buildings after fired IT employee gained 'unfettered

[TexasTowelie]

Security being increased at Baltimore city buildings after fired IT employee gained ‘unfettered access’ to sensitive areas


Security is being increased at Baltimore’s municipal buildings after a former employee, fired for having alleged hacking tools on his city computer, managed to gain “unfettered access” to sensitive areas at the Abel Wolman Municipal Building downtown, according to a report by the city’s inspector general and multiple sources familiar with the investigation.

The breach occurred May 6, the day before the city was hit by a ransomware attack, though the sources said any potential connection between the events was investigated and determined to be unlikely, and the matter has been dropped.

Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming’s report Tuesday did not identify the former employee. Three sources, who requested anonymity to speak candidly on a personnel matter tied to a law enforcement investigation, confirmed to The Baltimore Sun that it was Tirell Clifton.

The Department of Public Works fired Clifton in May 2018 after the alleged hacking tools were found and a review determined the technology worker had granted himself special access to Public Works Director Rudy Chow’s computer, according to a previous inspector general report and records Clifton provided to The Baltimore Sun.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-security-breach-20190716-33jenoqc3bggtoex3c7dmjrifm-story.html