Hackers stole millions of US military personnel records during months-long data breach
News Source
β’Wed, 30 Sep 2026 19:29:08 +0000
π° What Happened
The US is warning millions of current and former military members that their personal data was stolen. Hackers broke into a Pentagon records system over several months, from October 2025 to mid-July 2026. The stolen data included Social Security numbers, names, birth dates and military service details. The records were not encrypted. A Pentagon official says about 2.8 million living people are affected, plus close to 300,000 who have died.
π The Backstory
The Defense Manpower Data Center keeps over 60 million records for military members, staff and families. It helps decide pay, health care and retirement, and links people to secure IDs used to enter bases and computer systems. This follows a September breach at the FBI blamed on the ShinyHunters group. In 2015, a breach at a government human resources office exposed data on 22 million workers and was blamed on China.
π― Why It Matters
Stolen Social Security numbers can be used for identity theft and fraud. This case also raises fears that foreign spies could target service members, so it matters to anyone in the military or their family.
The US is warning millions of current and former military members that their personal data was stolen. Hackers broke into a Pentagon records system over several months, from October 2025 to mid-July 2026. The stolen data included Social Security numbers, names, birth dates and military service details. The records were not encrypted. A Pentagon official says about 2.8 million living people are affected, plus close to 300,000 who have died.
The Defense Manpower Data Center keeps over 60 million records for military members, staff and families. It helps decide pay, health care and retirement, and links people to secure IDs used to enter bases and computer systems. This follows a September breach at the FBI blamed on the ShinyHunters group. In 2015, a breach at a government human resources office exposed data on 22 million workers and was blamed on China.
Stolen Social Security numbers can be used for identity theft and fraud. This case also raises fears that foreign spies could target service members, so it matters to anyone in the military or their family.