1 week ago
ShinyHunters Claim FBI Hack Exposed Staff Psychiatric and Medical Records
A hacking group called ShinyHunters says it broke into an FBI website.
The group claims it stole a very large amount of information.
Some documents reportedly contain medical and psychiatric details about FBI workers.
Reuters reviewed documents that included a mental-health evaluation and medical test records.
The hackers shared some files with reporters.
Former FBI operative Eric O’Neill said foreign spies might want the information.
He compared the possible importance of the breach to a major government data theft in 2015.
The FBI has not confirmed the medical records but said it is investigating.
The reported breach could make FBI employees more vulnerable if the information is misused.
ShinyHunters claimed it stole psychiatric and medical records of FBI personnel.
Reuters reviewed documents that included a mental-health evaluation and other medical records.
The hackers said they obtained 2 to 3 terabytes from the FBIjobs.gov site.
Cybersecurity consultant Eric O’Neill warned the data could create a serious counterintelligence risk.
The FBI said it was aggressively investigating but declined to comment on the records.
- Who
- The ShinyHunters hacking group, FBI personnel, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and cybersecurity consultant Eric O’Neill.
- What
- ShinyHunters claimed to have stolen FBI personnel data, including psychiatric and medical records.
- Where
- The reported intrusion involved the FBIjobs.gov website; the report was filed from Washington.
- When
- The group announced the reported breach on Tuesday; the report was published September 25.
- Why
- The hackers reportedly sought to steal and publicize FBI data, while experts warned the medical information could be valuable to foreign intelligence services.
Hackers and Security Assessment
FBI Position
Whether sensitive records were obtained
Hackers and Security Assessment
ShinyHunters claimed it stole FBI personnel data containing psychiatric and medical records, and Reuters reviewed documents supporting the existence of such files.
FBI Position
The FBI declined to comment specifically on the records and has not publicly confirmed the hackers’ claims.
Severity of the breach
Hackers and Security Assessment
Eric O’Neill said the presence of medical data suggested the intrusion could approach the magnitude of the 2015 Office of Personnel Management breach and attract hostile intelligence services.
FBI Position
The FBI said it was aggressively investigating the reported breach, without publicly characterizing its scope or counterintelligence impact.
Key facts
- Claimed hacker group
- ShinyHunters
- Reported target
- The FBIjobs.gov website
- Claimed data volume
- 2 to 3 terabytes
- Sensitive records
- A mental-health evaluation, blood and urine test documentation, and other medical records
- Potential risk
- Experts warned the information could create a serious counterintelligence threat
- FBI response
- The bureau said it was aggressively investigating and declined to comment on the records
- Historical comparison
- Eric O’Neill compared the possible scale to the 2015 Office of Personnel Management intrusion
Quotes
Eric O’Neill
Former FBI operative and founder of cybersecurity consultancy Nexasure AI
“I would be shocked if Russian intelligence isn’t knocking on their door and saying, ‘We want that stuff, hand it over.’”
theprint.in
Sources
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