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

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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.

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 has been with TechRadar Pro for over two years, and has specialized in writing about cybersecurity, threat intelligence, and B2B security solutions. His coverage explores the critical areas of national security, including state-sponsored threat actors, APT groups, critical infrastructure, and social engineering.

Benedict holds an MA (Distinction) in Security, Intelligence, and Diplomacy from the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies at the University of Buckingham, providing him with a strong academic foundation for his reporting on geopolitics, threat intelligence, and cyber-warfare.

Prior to his postgraduate studies, Benedict earned a BA in Politics with Journalism, providing him with the skills to translate complex political and security issues into comprehensible copy.