FAA Gets Hacked, Staff Data Stolen

The Federal Aviation Agency has announced that its computer system was hacked into last week and data on 45,000 employees was stolen.

Last week hackers managed to infiltrate the computer system of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stealing personal data on around 45,000 staff and retirees. In a statement on Monday the FAA announced that 48 files had been breached, two of which contained the personal data. The server affected wasn’t connected with air traffic control in any way.

The personal data files covered employees on the FAA payroll in February 2006, the agency said.

In a statement, the FAA said:

“The FAA is moving quickly to prevent any similar incidents and has identified immediate steps as well as longer-term measures to further protect personal information.”

“The server that was accessed was not connected to the operation of the air traffic control system or any other FAA operational system, and the FAA has no indication those systems have been compromised in any way. Appropriate law enforcement agencies have been notified and are investigating the data theft.”

The FAA has informed law enforcement agencies, and has also provided a toll-free number for those who believe they might be affected by the breach, and will send out letters to those whose data might have been stolen.