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A US defense contractor that develops hacking tools and spyware may have had its secrets leaked to Russia.
Last week, the Justice Department quietly filed a document that accuses US resident Peter Williams of stealing trade secrets from two unnamed companies to sell them to a buyer in Russia. According to News, Williams was a former general manager at Trenchant, a company under Florida-based defense contractor L3Harris.
Trenchant’s website says it focuses on “vulnerability and exploit research” and “device and access capabilities,” in addition to intelligence operations. L3Harris also formed Trenchant after acquiring Azimuth Security and Linchpin Labs, which were known to develop tools capable of hacking iPhones and Android devices using software vulnerabilities.
The five-page DoJ filing alleges that Williams conspired to steal and sell eight trade secrets between April 2022 and August 2025. It doesn’t reveal much else, such as what might have been stolen. However, US investigators are seeking to seize $1.3 million from Williams, along with a house in Washington, DC, and dozens of premium wristwatches, as part of a request for a forfeiture judgment.
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L3Harris declined to comment on the case. UK records show that Williams is an Australian national and started working as a director at Trenchant in October 2024 before resigning in August. News reports that Trenchant is also investigating a leak involving its tools.
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About Our Expert
Michael Kan
Senior Reporter
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I’ve been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I’m currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country’s technology sector.
Since 2020, I’ve covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I’ve combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink’s cellular service.
I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. Earlier this year, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.
I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I’m now following how President Trump’s tariffs will affect the industry. I’m always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.
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