David Ross & Associates
  • Home
  • Testimonials
  • Join List
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Critical Event Protection

OPM hack's unprecedented haul: 1.1 million fingerprints

7/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The hackers who stole millions of federal personnel files also took 1.1 million fingerprints, a theft that poses an unprecedented danger. This is extremely sensitive information, especially as we increasingly use biometric scanners on phones and computers.

This could be one of the potentially worst parts of the Office of Personnel Management hack affecting 21.5 million people. Whoever has this information -- U.S. intelligence thinks it's likely China -- could use the stolen fingerprints to better spy on America.

"It's across federal agencies. It's everybody," an OPM spokesman told CNNMoney on Friday.

In a Mission Impossible-type scenario, the thieves could create physical copies using latex or similar materials, then break into the fingerprint-locked devices of U.S. diplomats and government agents. This would expose secret conversations, disrupt investigations or poison international negotiations.

And potentially worse, these stolen records could unmask undercover investigators masquerading as other people.

"They're completely compromised," said biometrics expert Ramesh Kesanupalli. "A secret agent's name might be different. But they'll know who you are because your fingerprint is there. You'll be outed immediately."

Kesanupalli has given fingerprints a lot of thought. He created something called the FIDO protocol, a safe way to use the human body to unlock devices. And now he wonders if this collection of 1.1 million stolen fingerprints will end up on the black market. It would create a brand new type of trafficked stolen good: biometrics.

That's worse than exposed Social Security numbers. Those can be replaced.

"It's not like they have someone's password. Fingerprints are data that doesn't change. They'll never change. Twenty years from now, this will still be useful," said Robert M. Lee, co-founder of cybersecurity software maker Dragos Security. Read more at CNN,,,,


Protect yourself and your identity with IDShield.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    David Ross

    Call me at 

    678-654-9500
    • Independent Life & Health Insurance Agent
    ​• LegalShield & IDSheld Independent Associate & Director

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    Categories

    All
    Accelerated Depreciation
    Business Management
    Cost Segregation
    Credit Score
    GMG Savings
    Health Insurance
    Identity Theft
    Legal
    Life Insurance
    Marketing
    Property Cost Allocation
    Property Tax
    Stryde Savings
    Tax Benefits

    Tweets by @DrDavidRoss
Contact David Ross & Associates at 678-654-9500
2720 Riverside Drive #7063, Macon GA 31209
david@davidrossandassociates.com


David Ross is a licensed life & health insurance agent representing
Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Clover Health, New Era/Philadelphia American, Manhattan Life & Assurance, Family Life, Voya Financial, Banner Life, Transamerica, Protective Life, Securian/Minnesota Life, Cincinnati Life, Illinois Mutual, Mutual of Omaha, Ameritas, National General, SureBridge, and other insurance carriers. David Ross is an Independent Associate and Director of LegalShield. LegalShield and IDShield are registered trademarks of LegalShield. TrioMed is a registered trademark of National General. Some icons and photos courtesy of flaticon.com, pixabay.com, and rawpixel.com.
​

Descriptions of benefits are intended only to highlight the insured’s benefits and should not be relied upon to fully determine coverage. If any description conflicts in any way with the terms of any policy, the terms of the policy prevail. For complete benefits descriptions and conditions, see the policy.

Copyright © 2009 - 2021 David Ross & Associates 
  • Home
  • Testimonials
  • Join List
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Critical Event Protection