FBI Cyber Official Issues Direct Message to ShinyHunters After Dutch Arrest
An FBI cyber division official publicly warned the ShinyHunters hacking group that authorities can locate its members, following the arrest of a Dutch suspect.
A senior FBI official has delivered an unusually direct public message to the hacking group ShinyHunters, stating that US authorities are capable of tracking down its members. The remarks came in a video released on Tuesday featuring Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division.
In the address, Leatherman told the group that the bureau knows how to locate them and urged them to make contact first. "You know how to find us, and we know how to find you. I suggest you reach out first while the choice is still yours," he said.
The public warning follows the arrest of a Dutch man earlier this month in connection with the group. The FBI's decision to issue such a message through a video is a notable departure from the agency's typically quieter approach to ongoing cyber investigations.
The video did not provide further details about the Dutch arrest or the specific charges involved. It also did not elaborate on what cooperation, if any, the FBI is seeking from the group.