In brief
FBI Director Kash Patel's email was hacked by an Iran-affiliated group known as Handala, which leaked private emails and photos online. The hackers claimed this action was a response to recent seizure of their domains by the US government and emphasized the vulnerabilities within the FBI’s cybersecurity measures. The FBI confirmed that the accessed information is historical and does not involve current governmental data.
Kash Patel's Emails Exposed by Iran-Linked Hackers
FBI Director Kash Patel's email account has been hacked by an Iran-linked group, with his private emails and photos being published online, the agency has confirmed.
The group, known as the Handala Hack Team, shared Patel's purported resume and photos of him on its website along with a statement that says: This is just our beginning.
They further commented, If your director can be compromised this easily, what do you expect from your lower-level employees? The FBI stated that the information accessed is historical in nature and involves no government information.
This breach isn't the first involving Patel; he was similarly targeted in 2024, weeks prior to his FBI appointment.
Photos alleged to have been taken from Patel's email are circulating on social media, featuring him in various situations, such as standing alongside a vintage convertible and posing in restaurants.
In a statement, the Handala group boasted about their capabilities, indicating that the FBI's impenetrable systems were compromised within hours. They aimed to criticize the FBI's reputation concerning cybersecurity.
The FBI is currently offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the identification of the Handala group members.
Last week, the US Justice Department seized several domain names associated with Handala, linking them to Iranian hacking activities, which included spreading propaganda and targeting journalists.
Handala claimed their actions against Patel were retaliation for the FBI's previous actions against them, including domain seizures and the reward offered for information on their cyber activities.
Earlier in March, Handala also took responsibility for a cyberattack on US medical technology firm Stryker, claiming they wiped extensive amounts of data in their operations.
