Suspected Russian hackers broke into White House networks last year.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON DC Just like any entity that handles personally-identifiable information
the White House has a responsibility to notify Americans if the recent or any future
breach results in a compromise. If such information has been lost the White House still has a responsibility to victims even if it believes
the hack was perpetrated by foreign spies and not cyber thieves said U.S. Senate Commerce Committee chairman John Thune after it was revealed that
cyber criminals had hacked into a White House computer system holding the
personal details of 1000s of Americans.
Visitors to the White House have to submit their personal details to pass security checks. It is understood that some of this data may have been compromised in the security breach.
Suspected Russian also hackers broke into the White House unclassified networks during 2014. Although the incident was initially downplayed reports since have revealed that the digital intruders had access to Obamas full schedule as well as his emails.
Sen. Thune (right R-S.D.) also added that personal information relating to White House visitors could also have been stolen as part of the most recent breach.
Thune in his letter to President Obama said that while hackers did not appear to have accessed classified data the unclassified computer system reportedly contained sensitive information such as schedules policy discussions and emails including exchanges with diplomats.
This unclassified computer system likely also contains the personally identifiable information of many Americans.
The White House said last month that a CNN report that Russian hackers penetrated sensitive parts of the White House computer system referred to an incident it disclosed last year and declined to comment on who was responsible for the breach.
It added that it took immediate measures at the time to evaluate and mitigate the activity.
Asked about the Commerce Committee letter White House National Security Council spokesman Mark Stroh declined to comment further on the breach but said:
We have consistently supported timely notification in the event of data breaches consistent with existing federal policy.
GOP chair urges White House to tell public about breach
Nonetheless Sen. Thune is worried that last falls White House data breach may have exposed Americans personal information.
Just like any entity that handles personally-identifiable information the White House has a responsibility to notify Americans if the recent or any future breach results in a compromise" Thune said in a statement said Thune.
If such information has been lost the White House still has a responsibility to victims even if it believes the hack was perpetrated by foreign spies and not cyber thieves."
