Hackers steal FBI files in ‘dangerous breach’: Report
Suspected Chinese hackers have penetrated FBI agents’ personnel files as part of the broader attack on the federal government, according to a report.
The extent of the FBI penetration is unknown but the breach of the agency responsible for investigating domestic terrorist plots and foreign spies could have dangerous national security implications, Newsweek reports.
The report of the hacking follows a massive digital siege on the Office of Personnel Management, which laid bare the data of up to four million former and current government employees last month.
A week later, OPM revealed a second breach of a security clearance database that contained sensitive background information on US intelligence and military personnel.
US authorities blamed the attacks on China. Beijing, however, has dismissed the allegations as "irresponsible and unscientific."
An FBI agent told Newsweek he was notified by the personnel agency in May that his personnel data had been breached by suspected Chinese hackers.
“This is the second notification that I've been breached,” the agent said on condition of anonymity. “They got me through Anthem Blue Cross, now they have me through OPM. I think of the 17 million they have on file, they're only notifying 4 million. But I was notified last month.”
Any penetration of the FBI could have “mind boggling… counterintelligence implications, national security implications,” the veteran agent said.
Following last month’s breach, the White House announced that the US will impose economic sanctions on the hackers.
Beijing says Washington’s cyber attack accusations are hypocritical, since intelligence leaks have revealed that the US itself is the most active perpetrator of cyber espionage against foreign countries, especially against China.
HRJ/HRJ
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