US: Hacked federal files couldn’t be encrypted

WASHINGTON: Millions of government employee records apparently stolen by Chinese hackers were not encrypted, and software designed to block known computer breaches has not been installed to protect most of the files, officials said Tuesday.

The latest disclosure came as officials continue to investigate two devastating hacks into the files of the Office of Personnel Management, the federal government’s human resources agency. The cyberattacks have exposed how vulnerable and outdated are many of the computer systems that the federal government uses to store details collected for job applications, security clearances and other needs.