Iran-linked hackers breach FBI director’s email, leak material online

WASHINGTON: Iran-linked hackers have claimed to have breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel and published excerpts, including photographs and documents, online, according to a Reuters report.

The hacker group, identifying itself as “Handala Hack Team”, said on its website that Patel had been added to its list of targets. A US Justice Department official confirmed the breach and said the material shared online appeared to be authentic.

The FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while the hackers also did not reply to media queries.

Handala describes itself as a pro-Palestinian vigilante group, but Western cybersecurity researchers believe it is linked to Iranian state-backed cyber intelligence operations.

The group recently claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on U.S.-based medical device company Stryker, saying it had deleted a large volume of company data.

Reuters said it could not independently verify the leaked emails. However, the Gmail address cited by the hackers matches one previously linked to Patel in earlier data breaches, according to a dark web intelligence firm.

A review of the leaked material suggests it includes both personal and professional correspondence dating from 2010 to 2019.