Iran-linked hackers have broken into the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, publishing his emails, photographs, and other documents online, according to the hackers and the bureau.
The hacker group Handala Hack Team said Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.” The group posted personal photos showing Patel smoking cigars, riding in an antique convertible, and taking a mirror selfie with a large bottle of rum.
Handala Hack Team leaked the FBI director’s video
Handala also released a sample of more than 300 emails from Patel’s inbox, dating between 2010 and 2019. The emails appear to include a mix of personal and work correspondence.
The FBI confirmed that Patel’s email account had been targeted. In a statement, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson said the bureau had taken steps to reduce potential risks and clarified that the data was “historical in nature” and did not contain government information.
Cyberattack on a Michigan-based medical device
Handala, which presents itself as a pro-Palestinian vigilante hacker group, is believed by cyber experts to be connected to Iranian government cyberintelligence units. The group recently claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on a Michigan-based medical device company, saying it had deleted a large amount of the company’s data.
The hackers did not respond to requests for comment, and their website could not be accessed later on Friday.
The personal Gmail address that Handala targeted matches Patel’s known email linked to previous dark web breaches, according to cyber intelligence analysts. Google, which operates Gmail, did not respond to a request for comment.
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