USA: Iran-linked hackers have claimed responsibility for breaching the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel, publishing what they allege to be private photographs and a résumé belonging to him, according to a Reuters report.
A Justice Department official has confirmed that Patel’s inbox was compromised and stated that the material circulating online appears to be authentic. The FBI has not yet issued an official response, while the hacker group behind the claim has also not responded to media queries.
The group, identifying itself as the “Handala Hack Team,” announced on its website that Patel would now be included in its list of successfully targeted individuals. The hackers also released a series of images allegedly showing Patel in informal personal settings, along with additional data purportedly extracted from his email account.
According to Reuters, the materials include photographs depicting Patel in various personal contexts, alongside documents claimed to be part of his professional and personal correspondence. The authenticity of these images has not been independently verified.
About the Hackers
“Handala,” which describes itself as a pro-Palestinian vigilante hacking collective, is considered by Western cybersecurity researchers to be one of several personas associated with Iranian state-linked cyber intelligence operations.
The group has previously claimed responsibility for cyberattacks on multiple organisations, including a recent incident involving Michigan-based medical technology company Stryker, which it said resulted in the deletion of significant corporate data.
While the publication has not independently verified the contents of the alleged breach, Reuters reported that a sample of the material reviewed appears to include email exchanges spanning from 2010 to 2019, containing both personal and professional communications.
The incident adds to growing concerns over targeted cyber intrusions involving high-profile officials, underscoring the continuing risks posed by sophisticated hacking groups operating in the geopolitical cyber domain.
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