Iran-linked hackers breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s email, leaking personal data in an escalation of the cyber dimension of ongoing war, Reuters reported.
FBI Director Targeted
Iran-linked hackers have broken into the personal email inbox of FBI Director Kash Patel, publishing photographs and documents online, according to a report by Reuters news agency.
The group, calling itself Handala Hack Team, claimed responsibility for the breach, stating that Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.”
The hackers released a series of personal images alongside a sample of more than 300 emails.
The emails, which reportedly span from 2010 to 2019, appear to include both personal and work-related correspondence.
The FBI confirmed that Patel’s account had been targeted. A bureau spokesperson said authorities had taken “all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks,” adding that the data involved was “historical in nature and involves no government information.”
Expanding Cyber Front
Handala, which describes itself as a pro-Palestinian hacker group, is considered by Western analysts to be linked to Iranian cyber units.
The group has recently claimed additional operations, including a breach involving employees of Lockheed Martin and an earlier cyberattack on a US-based medical technology company.
Cybersecurity analysts say the operation reflects a broader strategy aimed at exposing and pressuring US officials. Gil Messing, an executive at Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point, told Reuters that such actions are intended to “make them feel vulnerable.”
Attacks on Israeli Systems
The group has carried out a series of cyber operations in recent years, primarily targeting Israeli systems and, more recently, US-linked entities.
Handala has previously claimed responsibility for breaches involving Israeli municipal databases and private-sector companies, where it released limited batches of personal data to demonstrate access.
In other cases, the group published identifying information linked to Israeli military personnel.
More recently, Handala said it had accessed data related to employees of Lockheed Martin, as well as systems belonging to a US-based medical technology company.
(PC, Reuters)
Oh, of course! isn’t it obvious that Iran was up to no good??
what a bunch of bullsh!t. Clearly this was our favorite 3-digit acronym, lousing up all they can, trying to distract the public from their absolute failures. The best thing Dondolf Trumpeldor can do is play dumb(er) and go grab Nazinyahu: pin it all on him, which would be 100% accurate…end of story. toss him in a cell, take credit for ending what has obviously been, Israel’s war. Say sorry to the American citizens for betraying them like this, and step down.
“Iran-Linked Hackers” is misleading: no support is provided for this claim, only “…is considered by Western analysts to be linked to Iranian cyber units.” The operative word here is “considered”, i.e. BELIEVED, but not KNOWN. No sources are named, so this is an anonymous unsupported allegation – not an established fact. The only name is an executive at Check Point – an organization KNOWN to be linked to Israel. Check Point’s website states that its CEO established the IDF Cyber Command, and its CEO and CTO were both leaders in the Israeli equivalent of the US NSA. Should Palestine Chronicle be echoing propaganda from such sources uncritically, by using the speculative term “Iran-Linked”?