Personal data security

Insiders stole personal data from 246,000 Homeland Security staff - so they could test software they planned to sell to OTHER federal departments

The Department of Homeland Security was subjected to a data heist by its own staff as part of a nefarious scheme to sell knockoff software to other government departments, it has been alleged.

The unnamed insiders are accused of stealing the personal information of around 246,000 agency employees with a plan to use it o test software stolen from the office of the department's inspector general.

That data included names, dates of birth and social security numbers, officials with knowledge of the case told the New York Times.

The theft was committed by three employees in the office of the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general, according to the insiders.

However, rather than selling on the data the trio intended to use it to test software designed for managing investigative and disciplinary cases, investigators say.

That software was itself a modified version of proprietary program owned by the office itself.