FLASH
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"Today, once again, the world witnessed the collapse of America's so-called security legends," the Iranian hackers said.
A serious cybersecurity incident appears to be hitting US security forces, as FBI Director Kash Patel has reportedly fallen victim to an attack by Iran-linked hackers, resulting in the leak of his personal emails and photos online.
The group that claimed responsibility, known as the Handala Hack Team, announced the success of the attack in a provocative tone, stating that Patel "is now on the list of successfully hacked targets." The released material appears to include personal and professional correspondence spanning nearly a decade, from 2010 to 2019.
Among the files released are photos that capture Patel in moments of relaxation and privacy. In some of them, he appears on vacation in Cuba, holding a cigar, sitting relaxed in a chair or posing next to a large bottle of Havana Club rum. In other photos, the FBI director is shown next to a classic car, as well as in front of a large bronze statue.
The material also includes images from bars in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, as well as from business premises believed to be in Washington, D.C. The leak of such personal content raises concerns about the scope of the breach.
The hackers accompanied the leak with a lengthy message, openly mocking the US security services. "Today, once again, the world witnessed the collapse of America's so-called security legends," they said.
In the same message, the group directly attacks the FBI, claiming that its “impenetrable” systems collapsed within hours. “Is this the security the US government boasts about? Is this the cyber giant that believes it can silence the voice of resistance with threats and bribes?” they point out.
The message ends with an even harsher statement: "The FBI is just a name and has no real security behind it. If its own director can be hacked so easily, what can we expect for the rest of the employees?"
A Justice Department official confirmed that Patel's emails were compromised, but did not provide further details about the scale or consequences of the attack. The Gmail address Patel allegedly used has reportedly appeared in previous data breaches.
The FBI has so far not provided an official response, which intensifies questions about the security of its top leaders.
Who is the Handala Hacking Team?
The Handala group describes itself as a pro-Palestinian "activist group," but cybersecurity experts believe it is a front for Iranian state actors. Its name has been implicated in other high-profile attacks recently.
The same group recently claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Michigan-based medical technology company Stryker, which analysts believe was retaliation for US-Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.
The cyberattack comes amid rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The hackers say their actions are linked to a military strike, most likely American, that hit a school and killed Iranian students early in the conflict.
Both the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have warned of possible cyber retaliation following President Donald Trump's decision to order airstrikes against Iran on February 28.
The incident with Kash Patel comes to confirm fears of a new phase of the "invisible war", where the fields of conflict are transferred from the ground to the digital environment, with targets now not only infrastructure, but also key figures in the state apparatus.
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