Pro-Iranian hackers say they’ve infiltrated the account of FBI director Kash Patel after posting his personal photos and documents online.
The release included years-old pictures of Mr Patel, along with a work CV, and other personal records – many of them seemingly more than a decade old.
In a message posted on Friday, the hacker group Handala wrote: “Kash Patel, the current head of the FBI, who once saw his name displayed with pride on the agency’s headquarters, will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.”
FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill. Pic:Reuters
In a statement, the FBI said: “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 added: “The information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.”
Earlier, a Department of Justice official told Reuters the material appeared to be authentic.
One of the hacked photos showed Mr Patel standing beside an antique sports car; another showed him with a cigar in his mouth.
Many of the records released appeared to relate to his personal travels and business in years past, before he was appointed to head the bureau.
FBI headquarters in Washington DC. Pic: Reuters
It’s not clear when the infiltration occurred, but Mr Patel was reportedly informed by the FBI in December 2024 that he had been targeted as part of an Iranian hack.
Handala, a pro-Iranian, pro-Palestinian hacking group, also took credit this month for a cyber attack on Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology company.
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They said it was in retaliation for US strikes that they claimed had killed Iranian schoolchildren.
The group was singled out by the Justice Department when it announced last week it had seized four web domains tied to Iranian hacking schemes.
