DHS investigates massive data breach exposing 40,000 employees, including ICE and Border Patrol agents - WRGA Rome's Newstalk
The Department of Homeland Security is investigating a potentially catastrophic data breach that may have exposed the identities and contact information of approximately 40,000 employees and contractors, including 10,000 ICE personnel.
The suspected breach exposed names, titles, locations, and in some cases phone numbers and email addresses of approximately 40,000 DHS employees and contractors. The data includes records associated with more than 20,000 U.S. Customs and Border Protection employees, including Border Patrol personnel.
Breach Details
Multiple sources confirmed the authenticity of portions of the data, which Fox News independently verified includes the names of several undercover ICE agents. The data leak website Distributed Denial of Secrets announced it had released the information Wednesday.
We take all security threats against our employees and officers seriously and will work to ensure all are properly protected.
Group Claims Responsibility
An anti-fascist hacking group calling itself the "Department of Peace" claimed responsibility for obtaining the data. The group stated that DHS employees "have our information, so it's only fair that we have theirs" and hoped the data "can be used to limit further harm by the DHS." Emma Best, co-founder of Distributed Denial of Secrets, said a tool had been developed to allow the public to search the data, claiming it would "replace anonymity with accountability."
Context
The reported breach comes amid broader concerns about government personnel security. Last month, a Pentagon personnel database breach exposed sensitive information belonging to more than 2.76 million living U.S. military and civilian personnel and 294,000 deceased individuals.
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