The main victims of the attack are thought to be personnel at C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) and Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM).
The cyber-attackers also stole the personal information of visitors to the base. Details such as “a mix of full names, dates and places of birth, social security numbers, home addresses, and salaries” have fallen into the hackers’ hands, CECOM spokeswoman Andricka Thomas told the Asbury Park Press.
The hackers are yet to be identified by the authorities, and the Army’s Cyber Command is leading an investigation into the attack. The spokeswoman added that the attack was launched by “unknown” persons and for “unknown reasons”.
Thomas added,
“CECOM takes this incident very seriously and we apologise to all personnel affected. We are taking urgent and decisive action to prevent this from occurring again. This does not affect anyone’s ability to do their jobs, or impact entitlements,”
The US Army has offered one year’s free credit monitoring to all those affected by the attack.