Group demanded FBI retract advisory warning of harassment, extortion
The New York Times reported that ShinyHunters sent it and other news organizations a sample of what the group claims is the leaked information. “Cross references of some of that sample data against publicly available information online indicated that the materials are most likely legitimate,” The Times reported.
ShinyHunters posted its claim Tuesday, addressing the message to Patel and Leatherman. “We have compromised the FBI,” the group said. The group said it targeted the FBI over a May advisory that warned the group harasses hacking victims or their family members with “real or exaggerated” claims and extortion attempts. The FBI issued that advisory after identifying ShinyHunters as responsible for a hack of the online learning system Canvas.
The group demanded the FBI “correct or simply remove” the advisory. “We have been severely offended,” the group wrote. ShinyHunters gave the bureau a week to comply but did not specify what action it would take otherwise.
According to the group’s post, the data it claims to have obtained includes agent and applicant names, addresses, phone numbers, spouse names, medical details and other data on “almost ALL” FBI agents and individuals who filed an application with the FBI for a job. The FBIJobs.gov portal remained offline Wednesday.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the FBI said it was aware of the claims but that “the point of the breach is still undetermined.” The bureau said it is “actively and aggressively investigating this matter and working closely with those third-party providers that support FBIJobs.gov to mitigate any and all risk.”