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FBI removes Accenture contractor after breach exposes employee records

The FBI has removed an Accenture contractor following a data breach attributed to the ShinyHunters hacking group that exposed private records belonging to thousands of bureau employees.

An Accenture logo on an exterior building wall, above text describing a data breach that exposed FBI employee records.
Image: @qz

The FBI removed an Accenture contractor following a damaging data breach that exposed the private details of thousands of bureau employees, according to sources reported by Reuters.[1][2][3][4][5][8]

The bureau attributed the breach to the hacking group ShinyHunters, stating that a contractor failed to install a necessary security update. According to reporting from Quartz and SecurityWeek, the unapplied fix was for Oracle PeopleSoft software, which enabled hackers to compromise personal information including health files and home addresses.[6][7][8]

Key facts

  • An Accenture contractor was removed from the FBI following a damaging data breach, according to sources cited by Reuters.
  • The incident exposed the private details and records of thousands of FBI employees.
  • The FBI attributed the cyberattack to the hacking group ShinyHunters.
  • The breach occurred after a contractor failed to apply a known security patch for Oracle PeopleSoft.
  • Compromised employee data included home addresses and health files.

Sources · 7 sources

  1. MI

    Mint@livemintPost on X ·

    FBI removes Accenture contractor for alleged involvement in a data breach that exposed details of thousands of employees https://t.co/FFAZA4PARa

    Open source
  2. RE

    Reuters@ReutersPost on X ·

    EXCLUSIVE: Accenture contractor removed from FBI following damaging data breach, sources say https://t.co/LLhFv8GgTS https://t.co/LLhFv8GgTS

    Open source
  3. TS

    The Straits Times@straits_timesPost on X ·

    Accenture contractor removed from FBI following damaging data breach, sources say https://t.co/xhGyYfigjR

    Open source
  4. RE

    Reuters@ReutersPost on X ·

    EXCLUSIVE: Accenture contractor removed from FBI following damaging data breach, sources say https://t.co/cgve15yaCV https://t.co/cgve15yaCV

    Open source
  5. ET

    Economic Times@EconomicTimesPost on X ·

    Accenture contractor removed from FBI following damaging data breach, sources say https://t.co/SMIxiWonDp

    Open source
  6. QU

    Quartz@qzPost on X ·

    A missed security patch exposed thousands of FBI employees' private records A contractor's failure to install a known Oracle PeopleSoft fix gave hacking group ShinyHunters access to home addresses, health files, and counterintelligence de #FBIDataBreach #ShinyHunters #Accenture https://t.co/jchGI6Y3gv

    Open source
  7. SE

    SecurityWeek@SecurityWeekPost on X ·

    FBI Blames Contractor’s Missed Patch for ShinyHunters Breach https://t.co/j9u34vFDPQ

    Open source
  8. TE

    Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·

    Sources: the FBI removes an Accenture contractor over a breach exposing thousands of employees' data; the FBI says a contractor failed to apply a security patch (Reuters) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

    Open source