Defense contractor SAIC Inc. transmitted personal information about US Military personel over the internet without encrypting it first, according to the LA Times.

The possible security breach affects about 580,000 military personel and their families. The data included names, addresses, social security numbers, birth dates and “coded health information.”

“The security failure is completely unacceptable and occurred as a result of clear violations of SAIC’s strong internal IT security policies,” Chief Executive Ken Dahlberg said.

A number of employees have been put on administrative leave pending an investigation of how the breach occurred.

Security lapse threatens service members’ data [LA Times]
(Photo:Artnchicken)

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