US Department of Homeland Security data leak exposes 41,000 employees

A massive data leak has exposed the personal information of approximately 41,000 employees within the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The leaked data, which includes names, phone numbers, email addresses, and workplace locations, was released online by the non-profit organization Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets).

The hack, claimed by a group calling itself the Department of Peace, reportedly targeted the Okta single sign-on service used by the department. While the hackers allege they accessed the database through Okta, the company stated its systems were not breached and found no evidence of compromise. The leaked records include roughly 21,000 employees from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), 10,000 from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and information regarding the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit.

The group stated the leak is a response to recent comments by DHS Secretary Markwayne Maline regarding increasing pressure on the streets. The released data also includes sensitive information related to covert and surveillance programs. DHS has acknowledged the potential leak and is working to protect its personnel.