Federal workers union frustrated by OPM hack response

[Omaha Steve]

Source: The Hill

By Cory Bennett

A major federal workers' union is unhappy with how the Office of Personnel Management is handling fallout from the massive data theft of 4 million federal employees’ records.

The National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), which represents over 110,000 government employees across the country, said it has received limited answers from the government and insufficient customer service from the company hired to help protect their members from identity fraud following the hack.

“Right now, federal employees are rightfully frustrated with the response offered following this cybersecurity breach,” said NFFE National President William Dougan in a statement. “Federal workers have had their personal and financial information exposed at no fault of their own.”

In the wake of the breach, OPM brought on identity-fraud protection company CSID at a cost of $20 million to give government employees robust identity-monitoring services for 18 months.

FULL story at link. Video: http://media.thehill.com/services/player/bcpid4287642919001?bctid=4287993136001&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAEA-5AE~,7pYsU79IKz0rQlRE1GiweihSvnpJ0H3V


Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/244523-federal-union-frustrated-with-opm-hack-response

[Wellstone ruled]

1. This is what we see after the so called

privatizing of various Government Agencies Data Operations. You end up with outdated crapped up systems,but the maintenance contract is a beauty and probably held be some relative of a Senator or Congressperson.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Gov't programs too can be corrupt, but

there are many examples of programs that worked without fraud. FDR's Depression-era WPA & CCC were remarkably free of fraud.

Another of my favorite examples is the old Sewer Socialism of Milwaukee. Those German Socialist mayors made the city damn well work, and they had the solid support of the local businessmen, who appreciated a functioning infrastructure.

My view is that privatization inevitably leads to corrupt practices, but while governmental programs are potentially corruptible, they can be kept clean.

It is no surprise that the governments that have functioned best have been those on the left.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. We spent seven years living in one of those Socialist German Towns in

Southern Minnesota. Yes,things get done and on time with know graft or corruption. And work last for many years to come. BTW,one of the top school systems in the State.

[Tempest]

2. It's much worse than the government is reporting, many more than 4 million are affected

Not only were federal employee records stolen, but contractor records as well. And those records included a lot of information on family members, enough for identity theft.

I was a DHS contractor and I received a letter from them that my records were stolen. And it was my entire background check records. And since I had Top Secret clearance it was my entire life history. Everything about me was stolen. Bank account numbers, mortgage account numbers, pension account numbers, investment account numbers, stock account numbers, driver's license, tax returns, rental history, job history, etc. Everything necessary to duplicate my life and open me up for massive fraud.

And the names, addresses, phone numbers and SS numbers of my parents and siblings was included as part of the background check so I had to contact them as well to let them know they were under threat. I don't know what other information DHS collected on them as part of the record but I am assuming it's also all their financial information.

So not only is it 4 million employees, but many more millions of family members personal information that was stolen.

[lonestarnot]

4. You know, I don't know if I trust the watchers either.