The Office of Personnel Management has admitted that highly sensitive background-check data on 21.5 million individuals has been stolen in a breach. The compromise was first discovered in early June. It’s an opportunity to talk to customers about managed ssecurity and ID protection services.
OPM said in a statement:
“OPM and the interagency incident response team have concluded with high confidence that sensitive information, including the Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of 21.5 million individuals, was stolen from the background investigation databases. This includes 19.7 million individuals that applied for a background investigation, and 1.8 million non-applicants, primarily spouses or co-habitants of applicants. Some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and approximately 1.1 million include fingerprints. Usernames and passwords that background investigation applicants used to fill out their background investigation forms were also stolen.”
The information includes individuals’ mental health and financial histories, and the SF-86 form which must be completed by those applying for security clearance for jobs in the military, intelligence services and other restricted roles.
China is thought to be behind the attack.
