During World War II, lots of GIs got “Dear John Letters” from their back home sweethearts. At least in the movies.

Later, when dumped by a boyfriend, women were urged to see the 2009 masterpiece “He’s Just Not That Into You”.

Jerry Seinfeld ended relationships using the “It’s not you, its me” line.

Whatever works.

For 2015 current, retired and former federal workers, the bad news comes in another form. By email or snail mail. Either way, it frightens and hurts. It is very long message from the Office of Personnel Management, which starts out like this:

“Dear XXXX XXXXXXXX

“I am writing to inform you that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently became aware of a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems and data that may have exposed your personal information.

“Since the incident was identified, OPM has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) to determine the impact to Federal personnel. OPM immediately implemented additional security measures and will continue to improve the security of the sensitive information we manage.

“You are receiving this notification because we have determined that the data compromised in this incident may have included your personal information, such as your name, Social Security number, date and place of birth, and current or former address. To help ensure your privacy, upon your next login to OPM systems, you may be required to change your password.”

There is more, lots more, but you get the idea. In two separate hacks, identify thieves got critical private information (names, addresses, Social Security) numbers. That information would enable somebody to get into your bank account, or open a line of credit or get a credit card in your name. The perfect where-to-start gift for a credit thief, or a spy recruiter.

In the second data breach, hackers got backgound-check information on current and former federal workers who under went security clearance checks. Many of them were for the CIA, Defense Department, NSA and the FBI. Part of the clearance process was filling out, under penalty of perjury, a 127-page form giving in detail their criminal records, drug/alcohol use, financial information and any history of mental health. The handbook for a potential blackmailer. While the government might know this stuff (if you answered correctly) your spouse, significant other or children might not.

The government is still trying to figure out who did it? Why? and what happens next? Estimates of the number of people with breached data range from 4.2 million to 14 million. You may have left government, or applied for a job as long as 30 years ago and still be one of the breached! The first data breach took place last December but wasn’t discovered until April. It was made public earlier this month.

It could be a while, months maybe even years, before this gets sorted out. Meantime, lots of feds feel like they are out there twisting in the wind.

Read all of Federal News Radio’s coverage of the OPM Cyber Breach.

NEARLY USELESS FACTOID

By Michael O’Connell

In southern Sri Lanka, it’s common to serve toast with curry soup and mint tea.

Source: The Telegraph

RELATED STORIES:

OPM reveals new details about data- breach victims
The Office of Personnel Management says victims of a massive data breach include current and former federal employees whose records were sent by their organizations to OPM for future retirement processing.

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The Office of Personnel Management’s contract for credit monitoring services is coming under further scrutiny. Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) joins in the questioning of how OPM made the decision to award a contract that could be worth $20.7 million over five years to Winvale for credit monitoring services.

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