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NightWatcher

(39,343 posts) Thu Jul 9, 2015, 05:58 PM Jul 2015

So some Chinese hackers have hacked OPM, what info did they get?

USOPM is now saying that the files of everyone who has applied for a security clearance since 2000 may have been accessed ( the total is now over 21.5 million people).
So what information could they have gained access to for everyone in a sensitive position in the military, government, and some private contractors?

Why not too much, just the details of each person's...

Personal Information
Passport number
Foreign associations
Every residence you've had for the past 10 years and a neighborhood contact for each one.
Schools, dates of attendance, degrees earned, grades.
Everywhere you've worked for the last 10 years, and your boss and coworker info for each one.
Military history.
Spouse's personal info.
Relative's info. including citizenship info
Contact with any foreign nationals. Type of contact and foreign associations.
Foreign travel details.
Police and criminal history
Drug use
Alcohol use and treatment/counseling.
Previous security clearances held, dates, level, and agency
Credit record
Civil record
Personal associations

Go look at the questionnaire and see if you'd feel comfortable with all that information about you floating around in someone else's possession. https://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/sf86.pdf

2 replies

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So some Chinese hackers have hacked OPM, what info did they get? (Original Post) NightWatcher Jul 2015 OP

If the hacker is with the [unnamed] nation state government - haele Jul 2015 #1

This is terrifying. Tatiana La Belle Jul 2015 #2

haele

(12,660 posts)

1. If the hacker is with the [unnamed] nation state government -

Reply to NightWatcher (Original post)

Thu Jul 9, 2015, 07:15 PM

Jul 2015

Methinks most of this information will be used to blackmail or coerce citizens of that government who may be "hiding" associations with people who have filled out the SF86 or who have friend or relatives working in the Federal government.

If the hacker is with any sort of criminal organization, then a good third of the country needs to watch their financial records for the next few years.

As a side - a business finances class I took once did the math on financial hacking to illustrate the power of compound interest - even if hackers can get into five accounts every day, and just take a penny per day out of every account they hack so that no one notices they have access, they can easily make millions by the end of the year. Just think of what a Triad hacker can make for his/her gang using the OPM information before security catches up with them.

Haele

Tatiana La Belle

(152 posts)

2. This is terrifying.

Reply to NightWatcher (Original post)

Thu Jul 9, 2015, 09:19 PM

Jul 2015

Security clearances demand detailed sensitive information. Why isn't this more important here?

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