Hackers Claim FBI Data Theft, Exposing Sensitive Intelligence Roles

A hacking group known as ShinyHunters claims to have stolen a vast trove of data from the FBI, including a spreadsheet that provides granular detail about the job assignments of numerous bureau officials. The data allegedly covers sensitive work related to Chinese espionage, Russian intelligence, drug cartels, and other high-stakes areas.

The spreadsheet, which runs to about 5,000 lines, is said by the hackers to be only a small fraction of a larger haul they claim totals two to three terabytes. It contains names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, and emergency contact details for what the group says are thousands of current and former FBI employees. It also includes assignments to specific field offices and, in some cases, to units engaged in intelligence, security, or counterespionage work.

The FBI has acknowledged awareness of "a cyber-criminal enterprise group claiming a compromise of the FBIJobs.gov portal and alleged impact to FBI employee personally identifiable information." The bureau said the cause of the breach remains undetermined and that it is "actively and aggressively investigating the matter."

ShinyHunters stated on Tuesday that it had breached the FBI and stolen data on a large number of employees. The group says it is holding the data until the bureau retracts an unflattering statement it issued about the group in May. On Wednesday, the group said it was trying to prevent the personnel information from circulating widely in the meantime.

While the entire spreadsheet has not been authenticated, details of more than 22 individuals have been individually verified by cross-referencing the hacked data with credit records and previous data leaks available through the dark web intelligence platform District 4 Labs.