Hackers looking for ways to penetrate Apple’s inner sanctum are reportedly offering Apple employees thousands of dollars to hand over their Apple ID login information. A report by Business Insider cites two Ireland-based Apple employees who said they’d been offered upward of $23,000 to hand over their Apple ID login information. Though employees didn’t know why their particular accounts were targeted, hackers have plenty of motives for trying to gain insider access. It could give them entry to intellectual property of the company or corporate strategy data.
"You'd be surprised how many people get on to us, just random Apple employees," one source told Business Insider. "You get emails offering you thousands to get a password to get access to Apple.”
The employee alleged Apple ID login information could easily be sold on the dark web for $20,000 or more if an unscrupulous employee wanted to do so.
The problem doesn't only target Ireland-based Apple employees either. iDigitalTimes spoke with a former intern and a current Apple employee based in California and both confirmed that Apple employees at all levels are targeted by hackers.
“I was warned during the employee orientation that people might offer me money for login in credentials,” one Apple employee told iDigitalTimes. “We were told that there are often phishing campaigns targeting Apple employees.”
Though it may seem unlikely anyone within a company like Apple might be tempted to sell off their login credentials for such a small price, there is evidence some Apple employees may have taken the bait.
According to Business Insiders’ second source, hackers will often try to find employees who have recently “jumped diagonally” into some junior managerial position where the pay increase may be minimal for increased responsibilities. In fact, the source notes Apple has even launched a “Grow Your Own” program, which offers staff opportunities to gain new skills and move up in the organization, thereby earning a better income and increasing their company loyalty.
Of course, hackers propositioning employees inside of technology companies like Apple isn’t unheard of. 2015 proved to be a year of insider attacks on numerous companies, including the infamous Ashley Madison hack . It, therefore, behooves companies not only to increase security within the company, but also to build loyalty in employees through upward mobility options like Apple’s Grow Your Own program.
“There will always be motives for going rogue,” Trend Micro VP Mark Nunnikhoven told iDigitalTimes. "If you have a guy making $50,000 and a criminal organization offers a substantial amount of money for access, depending on his moral compass, he just might be willing to hand the information over."
