[Dataloss] Hacker enters Agriculture dept. computers

[lyger]

Courtesy InfoSec News and WK:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/1700AP_Agriculture_Hacker.html

By Libby Quaid
AP FOOD AND FARM WRITER
June 21, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A hacker broke into the Agriculture Department's
computer system and may have obtained names, Social Security numbers
and photos of 26,000 Washington-area employees and contractors, the
department said Wednesday.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns said the department will provide
free credit monitoring for one year to anyone who might have been
affected.

The break-in happened during the first weekend in June, the department
said. Technology staff learned of the breach on June 5 and told
Johanns the following day but believed personal information was
protected by security software, the department said.

[...]