WASHINGTON (AP) - Hackers stole personnel data and Social Security numbers for every federal employee, a government worker union said Thursday, charging that the cyberattack on U.S. employee data is far worse than the Obama administration has acknowledged.

Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, said on the Senate floor that the December hack into Office of Personnel Management data was carried out by "the Chinese." Reid is one of eight lawmakers who is briefed on the most secret intelligence information. U.S. officials have declined to publicly blame China, which has denied involvement.

J. David Cox, president of the American Federal of Government Employees, said in a letter to OPM director Katherine Archuleta that based on OPM's internal briefings, the hackers stole military records and veterans' status information, address, birth date, job and pay history, health insurance, life insurance, and pension information; age, gender, race data.

The letter was obtained by The Associated Press.

The union said it is basing its assessment on internal OPM briefings. The agency has sought to downplay the damage, saying that only limited personally identifying information was breached.

"We believe that Social Security numbers were not encrypted, a cybersecurity failure that is absolutely indefensible and outrageous," the letter said.

"Based on the sketchy information OPM has provided, we believe that the Central Personnel Data File was the targeted database, and that the hackers are now in possession of all personnel data for every federal employee, every federal retiree, and up to one million former federal employees."

I read another article that said the data is already for sale on the dark net to the highest bidder. Commence Operation Mayhem Mr. Durden...

Why? Did he get a NEI entitled "Chinese Hackers Determined to Steal Social Security Numbers of Federal Workers and Sell them on the Dark Market Next Week" and then utterly ignore it?

I guess it wouldn't be surprising, would it?

Fish on...

Todd

Obviously not good. I think we need a new Department of Homeland Cyber Security. It can be run by the NSA and Zuckerburg can be its first director. We'll start with a trillion dollar budget and limit its annual growth to say somewhere between 12 and 22%.

It shouldn't be hard to get passed into law with a Republican congress. Since they're all about limited government and sh!t.

Well OK, that's a really good comeback!

I have received no less than 4 emails at work regarding the hack, and I listened in on a webinar yesterday regarding what to do if I get the email indicating I'm one of the 4 million whose personal data is compromised. The gov't. has already hired an outfit that will provide theft identity insurance and other assistance to employees whose data was hacked. It will take another week or two before the employees who were hacked get notified, so I don't know if I need to do anything about it yet.

Tell ya' what, I sure as hell hope the US gov't. is way better at national defense security than it is with cyber security. Takes me over 30 keystrokes to log into my office computer, have to change my uber-long password regularly, but the Chinese can steal my SS # and birthday, etc.

Sg

At least they can send you a birthday card now, Salmo.

Renters never take as good of care of the property as a home owner does.

When things are handed to people it's easy come easy go.

That should be the motto of our government.

Hank,

Nah, but I will worry if I get a call saying I've already bought a time share in Shanghai.

" E pluribus hey brother can you spare a dollar?"

FP for the win, again.