← Back to issue
Ongoing1 earlier update13 days

This story has run 2 times over 13 days, starting Sep 30.

  1. Pentagon breach exposed Social Security numbers of 3.05 million people over nine months
  2. Pentagon says unauthorized users accessed unencrypted personnel records, including Social Security numbers, of 2.76 million living people — this issue
FOX NEWS

Pentagon says unauthorized users accessed unencrypted personnel records, including Social Security numbers, of 2.76 million living people

Political Guyentist · October 13, 20261 min read

FOX NEWS

Records of 294,000 dead people were also hit, and the access ran from October 2025 until July 2026.

A Defense Department official told Fox News that unauthorized users got into a Defense Manpower Data Center system that stored personal data without encryption. The access ran from October 2025 until July 2026. It reached records of 2.76 million living people and 294,000 dead people. The exposed files may include Social Security numbers and military personnel details. The department says it has seen no sign that the data has been misused.

How affected people learn they were hit and claim monitoringNotices arrive by mail from the Pentagon's contractor, IDX; the letter lists which of your fields were exposed3 details
  • Notices arrive by mail from the Pentagon's contractor, IDX; the letter lists which of your fields were exposed
  • IDX offers 12 months of free credit monitoring and identity-restoration help
  • ; questions go to 1-855-744-4556

What we’re less sure of3 of 7 claims