An Iranian-linked hacker collective known as the Handala Hack Team claims it successfully breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel. On Friday, the group released a series of photos and documents to support their claim, including images of Patel smoking cigars and posing with cars in Cuba, alongside a screenshot of an old resume.
The group, which U.S. intelligence officials have long associated with Iranian state interests, framed the cyberattack as a direct response to recent FBI efforts to shut down their operations.
On their website, the hackers stated that the breach was meant to embarrass the agency following the seizure of several Handala-controlled web domains.
“While the FBI proudly seized our domains and immediately announced a $10 million reward for the heads of Handala Hack members, we decided to respond to this ridiculous show in a way that will be remembered forever,” the group wrote. They further mocked the Director, stating that Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.”
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The group also characterized the FBI’s security infrastructure as weak, claiming the “so-called ‘impenetrable’ systems” were bypassed in just hours.
According to the hackers, the data dump includes personal conversations and documents, which they have made available for public download. In their announcement, the group dedicated the operation to the crew of the Dena, an Iranian frigate that was previously sunk by a U.S. Navy submarine.
The FBI has confirmed it is aware of the situation but pushed back on the severity of the data stolen. In a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation, the agency clarified that the information appears to be dated.
“The FBI is aware of malicious actors targeting Director Patel’s personal email information, and we have taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks associated with this activity,” the bureau stated. “The information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.”
The agency also used the opportunity to highlight a standing $10 million reward through the State Department’s Rewards for Justice program for information that helps identify members of the Handala Hack Team. Federal officials noted that the group has a history of targeting U.S. government personnel.
“Consistent with President Trump’s Cyber Strategy for America, the FBI will continue to pursue the actors responsible, support victims, and share actionable intelligence in defense of networks,” the FBI said, adding a request for anyone with information on the breach to contact their local field office.
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