Hacking Attack Highlights US' Lack Of Cybersecurity

On Thursday, US officials revealed that a large scale hacking attack on government computers may have compromised the personal data of current and former federal employees. The hackers targeted the US Office of Personal Management's computer system which stores data on everything from employee records to security clearance details.

reported that law enforcement officials are investigating the link between this attack and the breach suffered by healthcare insurer

earlier this year. Investigators believe that the hackers were foreign and could possibly be linked to the Chinese government, though Chinese officials have denied any involvement.

This attack serves to further expose the lack of protection the US public and private sector have against cybercrime. Hacking techniques are rapidly changing and the development of security practices is lagging. Data breaches have become one of the US' major security concerns this year after several high profile attacks on both the public and private sectors proved there was much work to be done in this space.

Although there has been a push in Washington for collaboration between the public and the private sector when it comes to cyber security, many private firms are reluctant to participate in data sharing schemes. Earlier this year, the White House created an incentive program to encourage companies to share data with the government in order to improve the nation's cyber security. However, this breach in the personnel department will likely deter many firms from data sharing as it demonstrates how exposed their data would be in the hands of the US government.