Pentagon data breach exposes military personnel information

A data breach at the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) has exposed the personal information of current and former U.S. military personnel. Unauthorized users accessed a vulnerable computer server starting last October, with the breach remaining undetected until July.

While the Pentagon stated there are no current indications of data misuse, the exposed information includes unencrypted Social Security numbers, names, dates of birth, contact information, and occupational specialties. Experts warn that this data could serve as a resource for foreign intelligence services attempting to track military personnel or for cybercriminals seeking to commit extortion.

Reports suggest that approximately four million Department of Defense personnel may be affected. The DMDC has since patched the file-sharing vulnerability and restored the system. Affected individuals are being offered one year of credit monitoring and identity restoration services.