Capitol Cyberattack Poses Risk Congressional Staffers Could Be Blackmailed [Video]

Congressional staffers whose personal details have been exposed on the dark web could be at increased risk of blackmail and other targeted cyberattacks, cybersecurity experts have warned.

Almost 20 percent of U.S. congressional staffers’ email addresses have been compromised in various data breaches, research conducted by privacy-focused tech company Proton, in partnership with Constella Intelligence, found.

“If foreign actors obtained this information, they could potentially use it to impersonate staffers, manipulate communication channels or gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. This could potentially lead to the extraction of confidential data and even the disruption of governmental systems,” a Proton spokesperson told Newsweek.

Brian Honan, cybersecurity expert and founder of BH Consulting, told Newsweek: “Depending on the nature of the site they access, [criminals could] use that information to blackmail the individuals in question.”

Newsweek contacted the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency via email for comment.

The leak, which affects thousands of …