The VA computer network containing all of America's veterans' medical, personal, and financial records has been and continues to be at risk to hacking.

In testimony before the House VA Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on September 21, the VA's own Office of Inspector General revealed that it had contracted with a private firm to test the VA's nationwide computer security system during December, 1998, and January, 1999.

These government-paid hackers using only unsophisticated techniques had no difficulty penetrating and gaining access to the VA's internal computer network. They were able to access the VA's computer network "backbone" and thereby "owned the system." That's not all. The VA had no idea that its computer system had been hacked until it was notified by the I.G.'s office.