A data breach of sensitive files containing the personal information of thousands of Americans have been exposed by an unsecured server. These files contain classified and up to Top Secret security clearances of government job applicants and employees.
A North Carolina-based private security firm, TigerSwan, is where the files have been traced back to. In a statement on Saturday, TigerSwan implicated TalentPen, a vendor apparently used by the firm to process new job applicants.
A statement from TigerSwan, “At no time was there ever a data breach of any TigerSwan server. All resume files in TigerSwan’s possession are secure. We take seriously the failure of TalentPen to ensure the security of this information and regret any inconvenience or exposure our former recruiting vendor may have caused these applicants. TigerSwan is currently exploring all recourse and options available to us and those who submitted a resume.”
TalentPen could not be immediately reached for comment and TigerSwan was unable to provide documentation of their involvement.
Over 9,000 documents reveal personal details about thousands of individuals who were formerly and may be currently employed by the US intelligence community and the US Department of Defense.
According to the security firm who discovered and reviewed the documents, other documents reveal sensitive details about Iraqi and Afghan nationals who have cooperated with US military forces in their home countries.
“A cursory examination of some of the exposed resumes indicates not merely the varied and elite caliber of many of the applicants as experienced intelligence and military figures, but sensitive, identifying personal details,” the finding firm, UpGuard, said in a statement.
Due to the thousands of resumes involved, the true impact of the breach has yet to be fully figured out. Many applicants were involved in very sensitive and highly-classified military operations. According to UpGuard, at least one of the applicants claimed he was in charge of the transportation of nuclear activation codes and weapons components.
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