Investigation launched after theft of government data — leak hits US State Department

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US State Department investigating another data leak

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Data relating to the US government has been stolen from a contractor and leaked online, prompting the State Department to launch an investigation.

The threat actor stole and leaked documents from tech consulting firm Acuity, which specializes in cybersecurity, DevSecOps, data analytics and operations support services.

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Five Eyes data stolen from right under their nose

The Five Eyes intelligence organization is composed of intelligence organizations from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, which shares intelligence on state and state-sponsored espionage and cyber incidents.

IntelBroker says that the data contained within the confidential files includes full names, email addresses, office numbers and cell phone numbers of US officials in the Pentagon, military and government.

Speaking in the aftermath of the leak, a State Department spokesperson told BleepingComputer, “The Department is aware of claims that a cyber incident has occurred and is currently investigating. The Department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously takes steps to improve the Department's cybersecurity posture. For security reasons, we will not provide details on the nature and scope of the claim.”

IntelBroker has gained a reputation for stealing sensitive information from US government agencies, including data on healthcare plans from DC Health Link for US House members alongside roughly 170,000 people, and information from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

IntelBroker is also responsible for stealing hundreds of thousands of Facebook marketplace accounts, alongside alleged DARPA-related military information, files, SQL files, and documents from US military contractor General Electric.

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Benedict Collins
Benedict Collins
Senior Writer, Security

Benedict is a Senior Security Writer at TechRadar Pro, where he has specialized in covering the intersection of geopolitics, cyber-warfare, and business security.

Benedict provides detailed analysis on state-sponsored threat actors, APT groups, and the protection of critical national infrastructure, with his reporting bridging the gap between technical threat intelligence and B2B security strategy.

Benedict holds an MA (Distinction) in Security, Intelligence, and Diplomacy from the University of Buckingham Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS), with his specialization providing him with a robust academic framework for deconstructing complex international conflicts and intelligence operations, and the ability to translate intricate security data into actionable insights.