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2h ago

Iran-Linked Hackers Breach FBI Director Kash Patel’s Personal Email, DOJ Confirms

The leak highlights weak spots in private accounts during a resurgence by a group tied to Iran after U.S. domain seizures.

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FBI Director Kash Patel, pictured during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on March 18.
Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during a House Intelligence Committee hearing on worldwide threats in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Spy chief Tulsi Gabbard dodged questions about the severity of the threat posed by Iran in Senate testimony on Wednesday, with the long-time skeptic of foreign interventions careful not to contradict either her own past beliefs or the Trump administration's stance on the conflict. (Image: Daniel Heuer/Bloomberg)
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Overview

  • Justice Department officials on Friday confirmed Kash Patel’s personal Gmail was compromised and said files posted online appeared authentic, while the FBI gave no immediate comment.
  • The Handala Hack Team published private photos and a cache of emails that news outlets report mostly span 2010 to 2019, including personal travel details and work-related messages.
  • Reporters noted the Gmail address the hackers cited matches one tied to Patel in earlier data exposures tracked by dark‑web intelligence firm District 4 Labs.
  • U.S. authorities last week seized websites linked to Handala and have described the persona as tied to Iranian government cyber units, after the group also claimed a March attack on medical‑device maker Stryker.
  • The same hackers this week posted personal data for Lockheed Martin engineers and issued a 48‑hour ultimatum, a tactic that heightens risks for named employees and their families.