Iran-Linked Hackers Breach FBI Director Kash Patel’s Email, Leak Messages Online

An Iran-linked hacking group known as Handala Hack Team claimed responsibility for breaching and publishing contents of FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail account, releasing emails and documents from 2010–2019; U.S. officials say the data appears historical and contains no classified information. The group framed the action as retaliation after U.S. authorities seized domains linked to its operations; reporting also ties the group to prior cybercrimes (a malware incident affecting Stryker and disclosures of Israeli government-related data). U.S. agencies are investigating, Google and other parties have not commented publicly, and DHS had previously warned of small-scale retaliatory cyberattacks from Iran and allied actors.