Hackers used contractor data to infiltrate government: report

Officials believe the hackers that have decimated the U.S. government, pilfering millions of people’s sensitive data, broke into federal networks using information stolen from a major government contractor that conducts background checks for the government, ABC News reported.

Suspected Chinese hackers last December infiltrated KeyPoint Government Solutions, gaining access to the computer files of over 40,000 federal employees.

{mosads}In that theft, the hackers might have also picked up electronic credentials or other data that helped them break into the Office of Personnel Management.

KeyPoint became the largest private company working on government background checks after a breach at rival U.S. Investigations Services (USIS) caused the government to not renew several contracts with the company.

The data breach at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has already compromised a confirmed 4 million current and former federal workers’ information. That number is widely expected to grow to 14 million, encompassing government contractors and people named in government files and background checks.

It was also revealed Friday that a second breach at the OPM had compromised the security clearance files on millions of intelligence and military personnel. The hack could have far-reaching ramifications, potentially exposing undercover federal agents.