FBI says 'malicious actors' targeted Patel's personal email, Iran-based hacking group claims responsibility

An FBI spokesperson told Fox News the bureau is aware of "malicious actors" targeting FBI Director Patel’s personal email information and has taken "all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks."

The FBI noted the information in question is "historical in nature" and does not involve government information.

The Handala Hack Team, an Iran-linked hacking group, has claimed responsibility.

The State Department's "Rewards for Justice" program is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the identification of the Handala Hack Team — a group that has frequently targeted U.S. government officials.

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"Consistent with President Trump's Cyber Strategy for America, the FBI will continue to pursue the actors responsible, support victims, and share actionable intelligence in defense of networks," the FBI spokesperson said. "We encourage anyone who experiences a cyber breach, or has information related to malicious cyber activity, to contact their local FBI field office."

The targeting of Patel's information comes after the Department of Justice (DOJ) on March 19 announced a massive crackdown on the hacking group.

Weeks ago, the DOJ announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which allegedly ramped up after the U.S.-Iran war began on Feb. 28.

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The domains were allegedly used by the MOIS to target adversaries of the regime by claiming credit for hacking activity, posting sensitive data stolen during such hacks, and calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents and Israelis.

In one instance, the seized handala-hack[.]to domain was used by the MOIS to claim responsibility for a destructive March 11 malware attack on a U.S.-based multinational medical technologies firm, according to the DOJ.

Handala Hack claimed the attack was retaliation for ongoing cyber assaults against the infrastructure of the "Axis of Resistance."

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Days earlier, the MOIS, via the Handala-redwanted[.]to domain, allegedly posted the names and sensitive personally identifiable information of roughly 190 people associated with or employed by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) or Israeli government. 

Investigators also discovered the alleged cyber-terrorists used an Outlook email account to send death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists living in the U.S. and abroad, openly offering bounties to Mexican cartel "partners" to commit acts of violence.

A March 1 email with the subject line, "Death to [redacted victim names]," read:

"We the Handala Hack team, the loyal followers of the supreme leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, declare war on all the enemies of Islam in the West. Our partners, the CJNG [Jalisco New Generation Cartel] cartel in America and Canada have been given a list of our enemies who are responsible for our great leaders [sic] death. [Redacted names], you laughed like hyenas during the [redacted] show. We have hacked and revealed your home addresses in [redacted] and [redacted] to our partners in the CJNG who are in [redacted U.S. state] and [redacted foreign country] now. Both of you will be executed soon, and we have offered a reward of $250,000 for the operatives who kills [sic] and beheads both of you. ALLAHU AKBAR[.]"

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.