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Hackers stole millions of US military personnel records during months-long databreach
A months-long data breach at the Pentagon exposed personal information of about 2.8 million current and former U.S. military personnel, with records unencrypted. The theft, attributed to unauthorized access through a file-sharing system, raises concerns about the security of military data amid a rise in federal data breaches, echoing a significant breach from 2015.
Key points
- Unauthorized users exploited a vulnerability in a file-sharing system.
- The breach occurred over several months from October 2025 to mid-July 2026.
- Exposed data includes Social Security numbers, names, birthdates, and military-related information.
- Approximately 2.8 million living service members and about 300,000 deceased individuals were affected.
- The Defense Manpower Data Center maintains 60 million records for military staff and their families.
- No misuse of the information has been confirmed, but there are concerns about identity security.
Why it matters
- This breach is the latest in a series of federal data thefts, following a similar recent breach at the FBI.
- In 2015, a major breach at the Office of Personnel Management compromised records of over 22 million government employees.
- These incidents highlight ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities within U.S. government agencies and underscore the need for enhanced data protection measures.
The Pentagon data breach further exposes vulnerabilities in federal data security, reminding us of the critical need for improved protections as government agencies face increasing threats from hackers.