FBI Chief Kash Patel’s emails were leaked by Iran-linked hackers in the latest hack

Hackers linked to Iran claimed to have accessed FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail account and posted photos and his biography online, reports said Friday. A group called Handala Hack TeamThe company, which federal investigators say is linked to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, posted photos of Patel smoking a cigar, standing next to an old convertible and holding a large bottle of Havana Club rum.

Reuters, The Wall Street Journal Other media outlets reported the violation last weekend.

The FBI said in a statement to the newspaper that it was aware of “malicious actors” targeting Patel’s information, and had taken precautions to address potential risks.

An FBI representative said in a statement reported by the newspaper, “The information in question is historical in nature and does not include any government information.” The State Department offered a $10 million reward for “information leading to the identification of the Hanzala hacking team outside of Iran.” The Department of Justice and the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

The United States and Israel launched missile attacks on Iran on February 28, starting an escalating war that caused chaos in global financial markets and caused oil prices to skyrocket.

The Handala hacking team claimed responsibility for publishing more than 300 emails and photos, saying the leak was in retaliation for federal agencies that accused the group of “psychological operations” and taking over several of its websites. Hanzala too It claimed responsibility for a separate security breach At Stryker Medical Systems on March 12.

In 2018, Google warned US Senators And that foreign hackers were targeting their personal Gmail accounts, while the company also removed several Iranian and Russian YouTube accounts, which it said was part of an “influence operation.”

The latest hack is part of a broader trend in tech security, where relatively simple operations can generate sensational headlines. The goal of such attacks is less about gathering intelligence and more about causing embarrassment. Relying on digital storage can turn even routine data, such as resumes and photos, into targets.

Just last week, Patel admitted at a Senate hearing That the FBI buys data that can be used to track Americans without a warrant.