ICYMI: Massive Data Breach at OPM Claims Victim — The Director

One day after Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta broke the news to a congressional hearing that the second data breach at the agency exposed the records of 21.5 million people — the largest data breach in U.S. government history — she submitted her resignation to President Obama.  The databases involved in the second breach included highly sensitive background check information.   Back in early June, the OPM had announced that personnel files for 4.2 million current and former federal employees had been breached.  About 3.6 million individuals were reportedly affected by both breaches, therefore the total number affected is about 22.1 million.

The information in the second breach includes everything from Social Security numbers, mental health records, financial histories, names of old roommates and other information on basically everyone who has undergone a background check through the agency since 2000, as well as the fingerprints of about 1.1 million people.   This information also includes personal information of family, friends and other contacts of individuals who have undergone detailed background checks for top-level security clearances.