Who was reportedly responsible for the data breach of the federal Office of Personal Management (OPM)?

The federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breach, which occurred in 2015, has been attributed to actors linked to China. This high-profile breach led to the exposure of sensitive personal information of millions of federal employees, including security clearance background information. Researchers and cybersecurity agencies evaluated the sophisticated tactics and methodologies used during the breach, which included advanced persistent threat (APT) strategies commonly associated with Chinese state-sponsored cyber operations.

The motive behind this cyber espionage was likely to gather intelligence on government employees and gain access to sensitive data that could be leveraged as part of broader strategic interests. The attribution to China is further reinforced by evidence pointing to specific cyber infrastructure and attack patterns known to be used by Chinese hackers. This incident remains a significant example of the potential threats posed by state-sponsored cyber activities, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures within government agencies.