A major PSNI data breach has resulted in hundreds of pages of private citizens' details being placed into the hands of loyalists.
The digital files, including internet passwords, were unintentionally given to loyalists under investigation by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force and National Crime Agency.
Police had received "no report" of any missing equipment, which would usually be made through the PSNI's reporting and security standards for staff and officers.
The blunder is thought to have occurred after devices removed from loyalist suspects for examination were returned with a pen drive attached, containing personal details of private citizens and a number of locally-based businesses.
The information includes encrypted police files alongside accessible files with hundreds of pages of private data, including email exchanges, addresses and passwords.
"id": "PRO234091122",
"linkid": "psni",
"type": "Breach",
"date": "07/2018",
"severity": "100",
"impact": "4",
"explanation": "Attack with significant impact with customers data leaks"
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