1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. Why is this theft so concerning? (What danger does it pose to the affected employees?) Be specific.

3. Who is behind the cyber theft?

4. How is the government responding to this massive cyber crime, according to OPM?

5. a) Why are former intelligence ops concerned?
b) What problem does the theft pose for all whose fingerprints were stolen?

6. a) What reassurance has OPM given to those whose fingerprints were stolen?
b) Why might this not be so reassuring?

7. Chinese President Xi made a state visit to Washington last week including a state dinner with President Obama at the White House:

• On Friday, President Obama announced that he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had reached a “common understanding” on steps to curb cyber spying and agreed that neither government would conduct economic espionage in cyberspace.
• “I raised, once again, our rising concerns about growing cyber threats to American companies and American citizens. I indicated that it has to stop,” Obama told reporters at a joint news conference, with Xi standing at his side. “Today I can announce that our two countries reached a common undersanding on the way forward.”
• The White House said the two leaders agreed to create a senior expert group to further discuss cyber issues, and a high-level group to talk about how to fight cyber crime that will meet by the end of 2015 and twice a year after that.

Read “A ‘State Visit’ for China’s President Sends All the Wrong Signals”
a) What do you think of this suggestion? Explain your answer.
b) Are you reassured by President Obama's agreement with President Xi? Explain your answer.

8.  Watch the news report under “Resources” below. What now? What approach do you think the U.S. should take with China?

OPTIONAL - Questions for discussion:
a) If you can’t trust the government to keep your data secure (especially if you are an intelligence agent) who should you trust?
b) If your relative worked as an undercover intelligence agent, would you want him/her to stay in the job?
c) How reassured would you be if your fingerprint data, in addition to information about your health, financial history and families had been stolen by the Chinese government (or by some other nefarious hackers)?