Hacker Stole Data on Nuclear Security Workers
EmailA computer hacker stole 1,500 files containing sensitive personnel information on contractors and employees who work for the National Nuclear Security Administration, the agency within the Department of Energy in charge of overseeing the security at the nation’s nuclear weapons sites.
The data stolen included names, social security numbers, codes for the locations where the contractors worked and their security clearances.
The theft occurred at an unclassified computer server in Albuquerque, N.M. in July 2004. According to an Energy Department spokesman, the NNSA was unaware of the security breach when it happened and did not find out about it until last August when the FBI discovered the breach as part of a separate investigation. The Secretary of Energy, senior department officials and the employees affected were not informed of the data theft until several days ago.
At a congressional oversight hearing on Friday, the NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks blamed the lapse on a bureaucratic mix-up. Brooks told the committee he had assumed Bodman had been informed. "Just as the secretary just learned about this this week, I learned this week that the secretary didn’t know," said Brooks. "There are a number of us who in hindsight should have done things differently on informing."
Upon learning about the breach and the delayed disclosure, Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX), who chairs the House Energy Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, called on NNSA Administrator Linton Brooks to resign immediately. "And I mean like 5 o’clock this afternoon if it’s possible," he said, "I don’t see how you could meet with the secretary every day the last seven or eight months and not inform him."
An Energy Department spokesman said that Secretary Bodman has asked the department inspector general to look into problems with the disclosure and that the department was in the process of contacting employees and contractors whose personal data was compromised.
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Well, well, seems computer security systems are not secure as every database official tries to assure us it is.
The military records were recently stolen of some 160,000 veterans.
Colorado (AP) reported last week 150,000 personal identities were stolen from citizens.
Now, nuclear records stolen from some 1,500 workers! This is a major security breach for all of us!!! How many people were hired nation wide, at nuclear plants under false ID during those months?????
Why don’t people refuse to allow their personal information to be entered into any computer database?
Of course, we have no choice, it is designed by the government….for the government!
Everything from what we buy at the grocery store…to where we work, but more important who we are and what we do, and all financial records are on display. Computers owned by hundreds of private individuals, doctors, companies, clubs, organizations, friends, government, employment offices, and virtually every piece of paper we sign is registered on someones’ computer somewhere.
This story only reinforces the fear
and mistrust I have for computers, and those who hide behind them. Including Microsoft and friends who designed the computer for military operations and government spying.
There should be severe penalties (in the millions) for any data base which enables, discloses, by hacking, stealing, loss, or violation of personal information of innocent people and their privacy.
Those that hide corruption and spy, hack, or steal are no less than terrorists to ALL of us!!!!!!
Shar
Posted by: Shar | June 13, 2006, 8:48 am 8:48 am
Why hasn’t this story gotten more attention? An earlier report even appeared in the NY Times last week, which a friend forwarded to me yesterday, but this is only the second mention I’ve seen. It’s rare that you hear a subcommittee chairman demanding the resignation from a public official of the same party so aggressively.
Plus, these are sensitive matters related to the manufacture of nuclear weapons — and the lost list is almost like a recruitment tool for foreign intelligence agencies. Bear in mind that the loss to the Chinese government of the W-88 warhead design, the nation’s newest nuclear weapon, is now thought to have occurred through a weapons contractor, like those on the lost list above, not through the actions of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, formerly of Los Alamos.
Posted by: Theophilus | June 13, 2006, 11:35 am 11:35 am
Homeland security in action. maybe if we spent some money here instead of on a war for profit, then we would not have to worry about this. Howm many get away with it for every on they catch??
Posted by: mxwll | June 13, 2006, 12:50 pm 12:50 pm
I see this as a security breach of the highest magnitude. Consider that if a foreign country wanted to set us back years – they have a list to target many of our key nuclear talent and experienced personnel, which could take years to restore.
Is this how we are protected by our government – placing the heart of our national security at risk? Heads need to roll – and that database must be traced to whoever is in possession of it – if the CIA/FBI is up to the challenge. Let’s hope so…
Posted by: William Cormier | June 13, 2006, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm
Thanks Johnny for the update. That makes it even worse! Computer data is never secure…and anyone convinced it is, has a lot to learn about security…er….the insecurity of it all.
Let’s see those 26.5 million millitary records would cover a lot of the illegals who need ID’s wouldn’t they ???!!!
I have not heard of this nuclear breach of security anywhere else either….where is the rest of the news media???
Is this another cover-up???
Still waiting to hear about the major Iowa Ordinance Plant in Middletown IA, where they make millitary ammunitions…..two people were killed (??) Monday morning in an explosion….and as of yet (Tuesday evening) there is not a single word of explanation,as to who, why, how, and what happened, except that investigators were called immediately. Seems nobody knows if the two people are dead.
Shar
Posted by: Shar | June 13, 2006, 7:02 pm 7:02 pm
Please be careful with our safety. Nicky, Constanta-Romania
Posted by: Nicolae Ghita | June 14, 2006, 3:46 am 3:46 am