A data leak has exposed the identities of thousands of U.S. immigration officers as part of the release of records covering more than 41,000 Department of Homeland Security employees and contractors.
The information, published Wednesday, Oct. 28, includes names, work contact details and assignments. The Washington Post reported that it reviewed the database and confirmed its authenticity with current and former officials. Its publishers cautioned that the records are incomplete and may contain errors.
About 6,600 records concern Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees, while more than 21,000 relate to Customs and Border Protection personnel, according to reporting carried by The Guardian.
A group calling itself the Department of Peace claimed responsibility for obtaining the information. Transparency nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets published the archive, while hacker and journalist maia arson crimew developed a searchable database.
WIRED reported that the material also contains references to internal access groups and sensitive assignments, including undercover and surveillance work. Okta, whose sign-on service was allegedly used to obtain the records, said it had no evidence its own systems or data had been compromised.
DHS said it was investigating a potential breach and working to protect affected personnel.
On Thursday, a company authorized by ICE sought removal of the information from an Icelandic hosting provider, warning that the release could expose employees to harassment, stalking and physical harm. The provider declined, saying the material contained work addresses and telephone numbers rather than personal contact details, Reuters reported.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Hackers leak the identities of thousands of ICE agents.