Iran-Tied Hackers Leak Patel’s Personal Emails

FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly become the target of a hacking operation linked to Iran. A group identifying itself as the “Handala Hack Team” claims it accessed Patel’s personal Gmail account and published photos and documents allegedly taken from his inbox, according to Reuters. A Justice Department official confirmed the account was breached and said the released material appears authentic. While Reuters could not independently verify the complete set of data, the email address matches one seen in prior breaches. Reviewed samples include both personal and work-related emails dating from 2010 to 2019.

The Associated Press notes that the photos appear to be several years old, including images of Patel next to an antique sports car and another showing him with a cigar. Handala portrays itself as a pro-Palestinian vigilante group, but Western experts report it operates as one of multiple fronts for Iranian cyber operations. Earlier this month, the group claimed responsibility for deleting a significant amount of data from Stryker, a medical device company based in Michigan, a move that reportedly prompted the FBI to seize some of Handala’s online domains.

“While the FBI quickly seized our domains and offered a $10 million reward for members of Handala, we have decided to respond in a way that will be remembered,” the group stated on its website Friday, according to Axios. The outlet cautions that groups like Handala often exaggerate the scope of their hacks and the data they claim to have taken. No immediate comment was provided by the FBI or the hackers.

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