Online hackers recently breached the Internal Revenue Service's website, accessing personal information from approximately 100,000 tax accounts.
The breach, which began in February, was primarily done through the IRS "Get Transcript" online application. Hackers are alleged to have accessed accounts on the site by using previously-collected personal information and using it to correctly answer identity verification questions, USA Today reports.
Upon accessing the Get Transcript applications, hackers were able to acquire data pertaining to wages, income and account transactions.
"The matter is under review by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration as well as the IRS' Criminal Investigation unit, and the 'Get Transcript' application has been shut down temporarily," the IRS told the site.
HP Enterprise Security Products representative Rob Roy told the site that the information used by the hackers was most likely purchased from others who used queries to collect log-in data.
In response to the security breach, the IRS will offer free credit monitoring services for the taxpayers who were affected. The agency has also mentioned that the hack did not involve its central computers system that handles filing submissions.
There was an unsuccessful attempt by hackers to access approximately 100,000 more accounts during the same time period.
