FBI official tells hackers to get in touch, says ‘we know how to find you’
A senior FBI official has made an unusually public request to the hacking group ShinyHunters, telling the cybercriminals on Tuesday they should get in touch following a wide-ranging breach of the bureau’s job site. In a video address posted to X on Tuesday, FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman said the recent arrest of a Dutch [...] The post FBI official tells hackers to get in touch, says ‘we…
On Tuesday, a senior FBI official extended an unusual invitation to the hacking group ShinyHunters, urging the cybercriminals to reach out to the bureau following a significant breach of the agency's job site. In a video address posted to X, Assistant Director Brett Leatherman, who leads the FBI's Cyber Division, warned that past claims of anonymity or protection from friends had proven to be fallacies.
He reiterated, "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." While portrayed as a stern demand, Leatherman's appeal represents the FBI's heightened concern over the breach, which exposed sensitive medical records, Social Security numbers, family information, and intelligence-related details of named FBI employees.
The bureau operates as though every employee's data has been compromised, according to an internal memo. ShinyHunters did not immediately reply to requests for comment. The group had given the FBI a week to withdraw an advisory that the hackers found objectionable — a deadline that passed on Tuesday. ShinyHunters clarified that the ultimatum was not a threat and they had no intention of releasing the stolen data, stating, "This was all a marketing campaign."
Written by urgent.news from KahawaTungu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
