US state probes breach that exposed data for 80,000

A computer database containing the personal details of more than 80,000 employees was penetrated by unknown hackers, according to multiple news agencies, citing Iowa's Racing and Gaming Commission.

The attack occurred on January 26 "when the state firewall functionality was circumvented due to network routing changes and a licensing database was breached," according to a terse statement the commission issued over the weekend. The person who breached the system used a computer with an external account, the Associated Press reported.

Information stored in the database included employee names, social security numbers and dates of birth. The commission advisory said there were no reports of identity theft related to the breach. It didn't say if the state of Iowa would provide free credit monitoring for employees in the event that changes. ®