Computer hack exposes 16,000 Florida concealed weapon permit holders

May 23 (UPI) -- Hackers may have obtained information on more than 16,000 Florida concealed weapon permit holders in a data breach, the state government said.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said in a statement Monday that permit holders who renewed online may have had their names accessed. For most permit holders, only public information was exposed, but another 469 on the list were notified that their Social Security numbers may have been revealed.

The agency said the breach appears to have initiated outside the United States and that the agency will offer one year of free credit protection to those whose Social Security numbers were obtained.

It added that no financial information was obtained.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam ordered a review of the department's cybersecurity measures, and state law enforcement agencies are investigating the breach. He added that those affected amount to less than 1 percent of the total of the state's concealed weapon permit holders.

A 2006 state law orders the confidentiality of the names of concealed weapon permit holders.