Chinese Hackers Steal Data on US Security Clearances, After Failing Last Year

Recent attack shows that Chinese hackers ignored bad press, and continued attacks even after being exposed.

The Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building that houses the Office of Personnel Management headquarters is shown June 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. U.S. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Hackers allegedly from China breached a U.S. federal network containing information on close to four million current and former government employees. The attack marks the second time Chinese hackers have targeted information on U.S. security clearances, showing that after failing once they merely tried again.

The hackers targeted the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which holds records on federal employees and handles their security clearances. In a June 4 announcement, it said the office has partnered with the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team to “determine the impact to Federal personnel.”

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