Engineer indicted for attempting to steal DRAM process tech using hidden camera, detected by Wi-Fi signals

Indictment for Trade Secret Theft Attempt

Yeh Yen-wei, a senior engineer at Nanya Technology, has been indicted in Taiwan for allegedly attempting to steal trade secrets. He is accused of copying 32 files containing information about Nanya's DRAM manufacturing process. The indictment follows an investigation initiated by Nanya Technology after detecting suspicious activity.

Method of Alleged Theft

Yeh, who joined Nanya in 2022, reportedly communicated with Chinese recruiters in 2025 and resigned in February 2026. Before his departure in mid-April, he visited restricted office areas on multiple occasions in late March and early April. He used an Insta360 X4 Air action camera, hidden among snacks, to bypass security and photograph or video Nanya's DRAM process technologies and production methods from virtual machines accessed with his credentials.

Detection by IT Security

Nanya's IT security team detected abnormal wireless signals within the company's restricted facilities. These signals were traced to the employee's access records and activity logs, identifying the hidden camera through its Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi transmissions. This detection led Nanya to report the suspected theft to Taiwanese authorities.

Legal Consequences and Status

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office charged Yeh under Taiwan's Trade Secrets Act for unauthorized reproduction of trade secrets intended for use in China, an offense carrying a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He also faces charges of breach of trust under the Criminal Code. Forensic examination of seized equipment has not yet found evidence that Yeh successfully transmitted the confidential information outside Nanya.