Millions more government fingerprints deemed stolen
Source: AP
By KEN DILANIAN
WASHINGTON (AP) The number of people applying for or receiving security clearances whose fingerprint images were stolen in one of the worst government data breaches is now believed to be 5.6 million, not 1.1 million as first thought, the Office of Personnel Management announced Wednesday.
The agency was the victim of what the U.S. believes was a Chinese espionage operation that affected an estimated 21.5 million current and former federal employees or job applicants. The theft could give Chinese intelligence a huge leg up in recruiting informants inside the U.S. government, experts believe. It also could help the Chinese identify U.S. spies abroad, according to American officials.
The White House has said it's going to discuss cybersecurity with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits President Barack Obama later this week.
The Obama administration has not publicly blamed China or taken any public action in retaliation for the hack. Intelligence officials have called the data a fair intelligence target, one the U.S. would pursue if it had the chance.
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/3a3bd01f4f0843dcb2dc42b349a7ac5c/agency-millions-more-government-fingerprints-deemed-stolen
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Psephos
(8,032 posts)joshcryer
(62,265 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Had a acquaintance tell us this Hack nailed anyone who had a FBI or any other Agency Back ground check going back to the 90's. Pretty much everyone who ever filed a Tax form or was in the Military as well as anyone who had a Draft Card.
Homeland Security is spoon feeding the serious effects of this. And they know who the Hackers are and the Political fallout to come.
Make sure you check your Bank Accounts daily,and watch out for E-mail fishing. These folks got everything possible. Just a matter of time before this stuff hits.
nichomachus
(12,754 posts)Hers were totally secure
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)You know, with a cloth.
nichomachus
(12,754 posts)Cloth be included in the Hillary Happy Homemaker Kit?
RufusTFirefly
(8,812 posts)If not, don't bother me.