Millions of Fed Workers Compromised in Cyber Attack
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The FBI and Homeland Security offices are investigating the data breach at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. They say Chinese hackers may be responsible for breaking into the computer network.
Meanwhile, Washington is scrambling to warn millions of current and former federal workers their personal information may have been stolen in the breach.
News of this massive OPM cyberattack comes just months after President Barack Obama convened a summit with the nation's top tech executives to sign an executive order for the government to work with private companies on cybersecurity threats.
"These cyber threats are a challenge to our national security," he said at the summit.
This is the largest breach of federal employee data America has seen. Hackers now have access to the sensitive personal information of up to 4 million current and former government employees. And analysts warn it could be used for financial fraud, or worse, espionage.
Security experts at U.S. Cyber Command discovered the breach in April and believe the hackers work for China.
It's still not clear how long the hackers had access to the personnel files, but it does appear to be a second attempt, targeting the OPM.
The same agency was targeted by Chinese hackers just one year ago. The office is responsible for conducting extensive background checks on federal employees.
This breach is only the latest cyberattack on America's government agencies and major corporations by those working for foreign governments.
Just last week, came word the IRS had been compromised. And last fall, the White House and State Department networks were attacked by hackers believed to be from Russia.
Meanwhile, the government employees whose personal information may have been compromised in this latest breach are now being offered credit monitoring and identity theft insurance.
The Chinese government denies any responsibility for the cyberattack.
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