U.S. Government Hack: Four Million Employees’ Details Stolen, China Denies Responsibility For The ‘Cyber Attack Against The American Nation’

The U.S. government hack involving the theft of the personal details four million current and former government employees could be the hack to end all hacks. Security experts are already branding it a cyber attack against the American nation, but despite Washington claiming the hackers responsible for the hack are based in China, officials in China have denied involvement in what just might be the biggest hack in U.S. history.

The cyber attack is thought to have breached every federal agency. The names, social security numbers and birth dates of four million employees have been stolen after hackers accessed systems from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Interior Department.

The Daily Mail reports that it is now feared the stolen data could be used to impersonate federal employees or for purposes of blackmail.

An unnamed U.S. official also claimed the hack could be so far reaching as to compromise the integrity of President Obama’s office.

The FBI have launched an investigation and Washington officials have already claimed the hackers responsible for the cyber attack are based in China.

Republican Senator Susan Collins Susan Collins, who sits on an intelligence committee is convinced the hackers launched their attack from Chinese soil.

“This breach was yet another indication of a foreign power probing successfully and focusing on what appears to be data that would identify people with security clearances.”

The Independent reports that Chinese embassy spokesperson Zhu Haiquan claimed the accusations were “not responsible and counterproductive.”

“Cyber attacks conducted across countries are hard to track and therefore the source of attacks is difficult to identify.

“Hacking can only be addressed by international cooperation based on mutual trust and mutual respect.

“Chinese laws prohibit cyber-crimes of all forms. China has made great efforts to combat cyber-attacks in accordance with Chinese laws and regulations.”

Ken Ammon, chief strategy officer of network security company Xceedium, warned that the stolen information could be used in numerous and damaging ways and called the hack “an attack on the American nation.”

The FBI continues to lead investigation into the U.S. government hack and trace those responsible for the theft of the details of four million employees. A spokesperson for the security agency said it would “hold accountable those who pose a threat in cyberspace.”

(Photo By Sean Gallup, Getty Images)