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On Friday, Beth Cobert, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), announced that the agency has taken several measures to address cybersecurity issues exposed in the wake of last summer’s data breach. OPM announced their recent changes following a recently-published report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which focused on the major security flaws that have persisted throughout computer networks across federal agencies.
According to Acting Director Cobert, notification letters have been sent to all individuals effected by the first data breach. OPM is still working to reach an estimated 10 percent of individuals effected by the second data breach. The Agency cited faulty/outdated contact information for the 10 percent contact gap for the second data breach, but have indicated they are working to collect the missing contact information to resend notification letters (with an indication the letter is a duplicate). Anyone who believes they were affected but did not get the notification letter should contact the verification center for further assistance by visiting the website.
Also announced was in increase an insurance protection for those effected from $1 million to $5 million, effective June 1, 2016. In addition to increased monetary protections, OPM is working to extend identity protection coverage for ten years, while also seeking to minimize gaps in coverage between current protection plans expiring December 1, 2016 and the new extended protection plans (start date still to be determined). In the meantime, Cobert urges federal employees to adopt the practice of vigilance and “good cyber hygiene.”
For further questions relating to ongoing OPM cybersecurity efforts, interested individuals should visit OPM’s Cybersecurity Resource Center and Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
“For the past year, federal employees have lived in a heightened state of uncertainty regarding the security of their personal information, and the personal information of their spouse and children,” said NFFE National President William R. Dougan. “We are encouraged by OPM’s continued commitment to ensure those effected are provided the assistance they need and deserve. NFFE will continue to assist with OPM’s ongoing efforts and work with lawmakers to ensure that the resources are available to protect America’s dedicated civil servants.”
NFFE continues to work with OPM to provide protections to victims of last summer’s data hack
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