After the breach comes the self-inflicted Denial of Service
Three weeks after U.S. authorities determined foreign hackers may have stolen sensitive government records tied to tens of millions of people, the Office of Personnel Management has now shut down a system tied to the breach, essentially bringing to a halt the way federal agencies have conducted background checks for years.
According to an “alert” posted on OPM’s website today, the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing system — or “e-QIP” — “will be down for an extended period of time for security enhancements.”
In a subsequent news release, OPM called it a “temporary suspension” that “will ensure our network is as secure as possible for the sensitive data with which OPM is entrusted.”
Through the e-QIP system, OPM conducts more than 90 percent of the U.S. government’s background investigations – spanning 100 federal agencies from the FBI to the Department of Agriculture.
OPM estimates the system will be offline for four to six weeks, saying “in the interim” it will work with agencies to find “alternative approaches to address [their] requirements.”
The shutdown comes after at least 18 million people — and potentially tens of millions more around the world, including relatives, friends and associates of those who had background checks conducted by the U.S. government — likely had their personal information stolen by hackers who infiltrated e-QIP and other OPM systems, sources have said.
The nation’s top intelligence official, James Clapper, said Friday that China is “the leading suspect” in the massive hack.icants to provide personal information not only about themselves but also relatives, friends and “associates” spanning several years.
