A suspected Chinese-engineered cyber attack that compromised the personal data of about 4 million current and former federal employees is an "embarrassment" to the Obama administration, CBS White House reporter Major Garrett said Friday.
On CBS This Morning, Garrett reported U.S. officials suspected Chinese hackers were responsible for the massive attack based on the "malicious software used and the information targeted." Both the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Interior were breached.
Neither agency was protected by "Einstein," the U.S. governmnent cyberdefense system that currently protects about half the government's agencies and will be fully deployed in 2016.
"President Obama has been briefed on all of this, and the size and scope of this cyber attack is unprecedented and an embarrassment to an administration that's made cybersecurity a top priority," Garrett said. "As one official told us, 'This is bad. There is no way to put lipstick on this pig.'"
The hack was first detected in April. Garrett reported officials fear the culprits have potentially obtained information on background checks and security clearances, which spies may use to make their own background information look as normal as possible.