Chinese hackers accessed U.S. security clearance data for one year

New information has surfaced to suggest that Chinese hackers reportedly had access to key records in the Theodore Roosevelt Building, the headquarters of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in Washington, for a year.

This news is likely to leave American Government officials more concerned in the wake of reports that these hackers stole records of as many as four million government workers.

The Washington Post is reporting that this cyber heist could have far more grave consequences than was earlier thought.

The compromise of the system was discovered early this month and dates back to June or early July 2014, agency officials said.

The network holds a wealth of personal, family and financial details on millions of current, former and prospective federal employees and contractors.

OPM officials are still trying to determine how much data has actually been stolen and who was affected.

The background-check system is said to be complex and antiquated, made up of many databases and fed by numerous agencies.

The Obama administration has not publicly named the suspected perpetrator of the intrusions. But U.S. officials, speaking privately, have said it is the Chinese government.