'We hacked the FBI' says previous Rockstar-breaching hacking group: 'We hold data on all FBI employees and applicants'

ShinyHunters, a hacking group known for demanding ransom from Rockstar Games, has now claimed to have breached the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) internal databases. In a conversation with 404 Media, a representative of the group stated that they possess data on all FBI employees and applicants. A sample provided to the outlet revealed the personal information of 5,000 FBI employees, including addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and in some cases, details about their spouses.

Further verification by Reuters confirmed the authenticity of the leaked information. The ShinyHunters group also defaced the FBI jobs website, displaying a message claiming that the site had been seized by them, similar to the messages seen during FBI raids. The compromised data includes PII/PHI on both incumbent and former FBI employees, as well as applicant information. The ShinyHunters representative added that they possess additional data that they have not yet disclosed.

Upon learning of the leak, an FBI spokesperson told 404 Media that they are aware of the unauthorized activity affecting FBIjobs.gov and are currently investigating the matter. As for the motive behind the hack, the ShinyHunters representative claimed that it was not financially motivated. Instead, they stated that the attack was a response to a previously published FBI report, which accused ShinyHunters of exaggerating its access to sensitive data to prompt payment from victims.

The group also used various methods of coercion, such as harassment, threatening phone calls, and even SWATting.

404 Media reported that ShinyHunters denied these allegations as false, giving the FBI one week to correct or remove the information. The outcome of this situation remains uncertain, but it seems that there is an "or else" looming over the top.