2nd Security Clearance Investigation Contractor Hacked

BY STEPHEN BRAUN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Federal officials say the private files of 48,439 workers may have been compromised by a computer breach at government contractor KeyPoint Government Solutions Inc. The hacking incident is the second this year at a major firm handling national security background investigations of federal workers for the government.

KeyPoint became the largest private clearance firm working for federal agencies several months ago after rival U.S. Investigation Services lost its investigations contracts with the government following a similar breach. The earlier breach affected the files of at least 25,000 Homeland Security Department workers.

The Office of Personnel Management confirmed the hacking. It halted all USIS fieldwork after the earlier breach, but KeyPoint continues to conduct investigations. The Colorado-based company tells The Associated Press its public affairs firm will provide a statement later.