Home Depots former security architect had history of techno-sabotage

"We sell hammers" was the justification Home Depot managers gave for cheaping out on security to IT employees.

When Home Depot suffered a breach of transaction data that exposed as many as 52 million credit card transactions earlier this year, the company reportedly suffered from lax computer and network security measures for years. Apparently, the company wasnt helped much by its selection of a security architect either. Ricky Joe Mitchell was hired by Home Depot in 2012, and in March of 2013, he was promoted to the position of Senior Architect for IT Security at Home Depot, in charge of the entire companys security architecture. In May of 2014, Mitchellwas convicted of sabotaging the network of his former employer.

And that wasnt the first time he used technology for revenge. Mitchells previous legal troubles resulting from malicious use of his technical skills dates back to when he was a high school junior. In 1996, at the age of 17, Mitchellwho then went by the handle RickDogg in online forumsplanted viruses in his high schools computer system. He was suspended for three days from Capital High School for planting 108 computer viruses to disk space assigned to another student on the Capital High School computer system, according to a school district memo obtained by the Charleston Gazette. He then posted threats to students whom he blamed for reporting him. Mitchell was expelled from the school and sued to be re-instated. The case eventually went to the West Virginia Supreme Court.

On his 1996 personal website, Mitchell posted a description of himself with the title, The story of RICKDOGG:

I love to write and distribute Viruses. They intrigue me. I have taught myself how to program in assembly, c- - and pascal. I also love to fix computers as well. I am considered smart at school although I am very lazy. I do not like the shit they try to teach me so I get bored and try to liven things up a bit.

As Ars reported earlier, former Home Depot employees told the The New York Times they were not surprised by the hack. When they requested additional security training and equipment, managers denied the request with the explanation, "We sell hammers.

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Home Depots former security architect had history of techno-sabotage