FBI director Kash Patel HACKED by Iran as embarrassing private photos and emails leak online
FBI director Kash Patel has been hacked by Iranian-linked operatives who have published his private emails and photos online.
The hackers, known as the Handala Hack Team, said Patel 'will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.'
Material uploaded by the hackers seems to include personal and work correspondence spanning 2010 to 2019.
The pictures show Patel on vacation in Cuba, sniffing a cigar, reclining in a chair, and posing next to a large bottle of Havana Club rum.
In one photo he's posing next to a vintage car and in another, next to a large bronze statue.
Patel is also shown at a bar in Mexico's Puerto Vallarta and in an office space in what appears to be Washington, DC.
'Today, once again, the world witnessed the collapse of America's so-called security legends,' a message from the hackers read.
'While the FBI proudly seized our domains and immediately announced a $10 million reward for the heads of Handala Hack members, we decided to respond to this ridiculous show in a way that will be remembered forever,' it continued.
FBI Director Kash Patel with his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins. Patel was targeted by Iranian-linked hackers, who leaked what appeared to be both personal and work correspondence of his
The hacked material includes a photo of Patel on vacation in Cuba, posing with a cigar
The hackers mocked the 'impenetrable' computer systems at the FBI and remarked that they were 'brought to their knees within hours.'
'This is the security that the US government boasts about?!' the hackers asked. 'This is the cyber giant that thinks threats and bribes can silence the voice of resistance?!'
'To the whole world, we declare: the FBI is just a name, and behind this name, there is no real security,' the message said. 'If your director can be compromised this easily, what do you expect from your lower-level employees?'
A Justice Department official confirmed Patel's emails were hacked but declined to elaborate.
The Gmail address matches an address for Patel listed in other data breaches.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Handala styles itself as a pro-Palestinian vigilante outfit, though experts believe it is a front for the Iranian government.
The group recently claimed to be behind the hack of Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technologies company.
Smoke rises among residential buildings following an Israeli attack on Tehran, Iran, on March 10
That attack was seen as retaliation for US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
The group said the breach was tied specifically to a strike, likely American, that hit a school and killed Iranian schoolchildren at the outset of the Iran war.
The Justice Department announced on March 19 that it had seized a domain used by Handala Hack Team after an investigation by the FBI.
Patel said in the release: 'We took down four of their operation's pillars and we're not done.'
The FBI offered a $10million reward for information leading to the arrest of the hackers.
The website which targeted Patel's emails was registered that same day.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have warned of retaliatory attacks since President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran on February 28.
