Washington: A pro-Iranian hacking group on Friday took responsibility for breaching FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal account, releasing online what seem to be decade-old photos of him alongside a resume and various personal files.
The group, known as Handala, shared its claim in a taunting message: “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.”
Accompanying the post were images of Patel posing next to a classic sports car and holding a cigar. Handala also provided links to download emails and documents, which largely pertain to his personal trips and business dealings from more than 10 years back, AP reported.
In response, the FBI issued a statement acknowledging the incident: “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 information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.”
While the bureau stopped short of fingering Handala directly, it pointed to a Trump administration bounty of up to $10 million for tips leading to the arrest of the group’s members. US officials describe Handala as a frequent attacker of American government personnel.
The exact timing of the alleged intrusion remains unclear. Media accounts from December 2024 — prior to Patel’s Senate confirmation as FBI director — revealed that the agency had alerted him to being targeted in an Iranian cyber campaign.
Handala, which blends pro-Iranian and pro-Palestinian rhetoric, has ramped up its operations lately. Earlier this month, it boasted of crippling systems at Stryker, a major medical device manufacturer in Michigan. The group framed that assault as payback for purported U.S. airstrikes that killed Iranian schoolchildren.
