The FBI is offering up to $10 million for information related to the hacking of FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email account. This breach was confirmed by the Bureau, which stated that they are aware of malicious actors targeting Patel's information and have taken necessary precautions to address the situation.
The hacker group known as Handala has published content from Patel's email, including personal photos. TechCrunch verified that some emails stolen from Patel's account contained cryptographic signatures linking them directly to him. The FBI clarified that the compromised information is historical and does not involve any government data.
Handala, which claims to support Palestinian causes, is thought to be an alias for Iranian cyberintelligence units. Previously, affiliated groups have targeted U.S. officials, including an incident in August 2024 involving another hacking group, APT42, which sought access to political campaigns. Handala's activities have reportedly intensified amid ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, with the group also claiming responsibility for a cyber attack on medical devices company Stryker earlier this month.