Ethical Hacking News
Huntress CEO Kyle Hanslovan condemned former employee Ben Folland's allegations that a current Huntress analyst inadvertently disclosed sensitive information about an ongoing law enforcement probe into a notorious ransomware operator. The controversy raises questions about cooperation between security firms and law enforcement agencies, as well as the delicate balance between information sharing and insider threats.
A former Huntress employee, Ben Folland, accused a current colleague of disclosing sensitive information about an ongoing law enforcement probe into Devman, a notorious ransomware operator. Folland alleged that the disclosure was made by another Huntress employee who passed on communications from US law enforcement to Devman. Huntress CEO Kyle Hanslovan disputed Folland's claims, stating that while the disclosure was not illegal, it reflected poor judgment on the part of the affected employee. Folland pointed out that the FBI had notified him of the incident and that the alleged Huntress employee refused to cooperate with the FBI, potentially constituting an insider threat. The controversy highlights the importance of robust policies and procedures in preventing insider threats and navigating the delicate balance between cooperation and information sharing in the cybersecurity industry.
Huntress, a prominent cybersecurity firm, has found itself at the center of a contentious debate regarding the actions of one of its former employees, Ben Folland. The controversy revolves around allegations made by Folland that a current Huntress analyst inadvertently disclosed sensitive information about an ongoing law enforcement probe into a notorious ransomware operator, Devman.
According to reports, the incident came to light when Folland, who left Huntress in February, alleged that a fellow Huntress employee had passed on communications from US law enforcement to Devman. This disclosure, according to Folland, would constitute an insider threat and pose significant reputational risks to both Huntress and its clients.
Folland's claims sparked a heated exchange between him and Kyle Hanslovan, the CEO of Huntress. In a recent blog post, Hanslovan addressed the allegations, stating that while the disclosure was not illegal, it reflected poor judgment on the part of the affected employee.
The CEO emphasized that his team had taken swift action to address the situation, implementing more robust policies for researchers and coaching teammates on engaging with threat actors. However, Folland vigorously disputed Hanslovan's assertion, arguing that the communications between the Huntress analyst and Devman meet the definition of an insider threat.
Folland pointed out that the FBI had notified him of the incident involving the Huntress employee, who was allegedly found to have forwarded sensitive information about the law enforcement probe to Devman. The former employee, according to Folland, informed Devman that law enforcement was actively investigating him and refused to cooperate with the FBI.
The controversy has significant implications for the cybersecurity industry, which is often grappling with the delicate balance between cooperation and information sharing between security firms and law enforcement agencies. While some might view Hanslovan's response as overly cautious, others may see it as a necessary step to protect the firm's reputation and client interests.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Huntress will navigate this sensitive issue. One thing is certain, however: the incident has shed light on the complexities of insider threats and the importance of robust policies and procedures in preventing such incidents from occurring in the first place.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Huntress-CEO-Condemns-Former-Employees-Allegations-Poor-Judgment-vs-Insider-Threat-ehn.shtml
https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/06/30/huntress-ceo-says-threat-hunter-used-poor-judgment-in-alerting-ransomware-crim-about-law-enforcement-probe/5264532
Published: Wed Jul 1 08:16:36 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
