Did you or your spouse ever apply for a security clearance to work for the military? For a government job?

You may want to start paying attention, to both the news and your personal data.

Earlier this month the government announced that hackers had stolen federal government data for thousands of government employees. The finger was pointed at China and little more was said.

That may be because it's bad. It's real bad.

The Navy Times reported that the stolen info is from "tens of thousands of Standard Form 86s". That is the 127-page document which anyone who applies for a security clearance must fill out.

The forms are a treasure trove of personal information. They include bank information, social security numbers, addresses, job assignments and more. And not just for the applicant. For everyone the applicant notes on the form as a reference.

So how at risk are people?

The government isn't being forthcoming.

Earlier this week lawmakers questioned the Office of Personnel Management, which handles the DOD's background checks. The Navy Times reported that OPM officials knew the data was vulnerable.

An OPM spokesman said those individuals who may have had data stolen will be contacted, as soon as possible.

And in the meantime, we all just may want to be a little more proactive.

Check your bank and credit card statements, often. Get your free credit score report with three major credit bureaus. Be mindful of who is contacting you and why.

If you haven't been vigilant about keeping track of your personal information, now is the time.