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Leak Exposes 41,000 Homeland Security Workers–Including Undercover ICE Agents

Article URL: https://www.wired.com/story/massive-leak-exposes-41000-homeland-security-workers-including-undercover-ice-agents/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50280864 Points: 251 # Comments: 111

Abstract editorial illustration

The leaked data, compiled by Distributed Denial of Secrets and cybersecurity journalist mai arson, reveals information on 41,000 Homeland Security Department (DHS) workers, including undercover agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The data, dubbed "Icepick," was obtained from DHS's Okta login system and published by DDoSecrets on Wednesday.

DHS spokespersons deny any breach, stating their systems remain secure. The leak occurs amid increased scrutiny of DHS employees, with the agency expanding its definition of "doxing" to include publishing basic facts about public employees. Among the records, 6,200 belong to ICE, the largest subset, with another 1,300 linked to ICE's investigative wing, Homeland Security Investigations.

The remaining records span various DHS components, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The leaked data includes access permissions to sensitive systems, such as Palantir's Falcon investigative platform and PenLink, used for analyzing phone records and social media. Names of groups hint at tools for immigration court records, seized phone data, and surveillance.

Notable individuals in the leak include former DHS head Kristi Noem, DHS chief information officer Antoine McCord, and Trump campaign adviser Jayce Krachenfels. The leak underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and transparency within government agencies handling sensitive information.

Written by urgent.news from Hacker News Best's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

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