ShinyHunters hackers have allegedly exposed members of the FBI’s secretive hacking unit as part of a larger breach involving personal information belonging to thousands of FBI employees, including the FBI director.
According to 404 Media, 3 entries in the leaked data specifically mention the FBI’s Remote Operations Unit (ROU).
The ROU was “instrumental” in developing the FBI’s network investigative technique, or NIT, a hacking tool used to identify visitors to a dark web child abuse site operated by the FBI, according to a DOJ report.
The report said the unit’s role in dark web investigations later declined due to budget cuts and a greater focus on tools for national security investigations. It said other FBI units began developing their own tools for dark web investigations, leading to a more decentralized approach.
The leaked information linked to ROU personnel reportedly includes home addresses, phone numbers and, in some cases, the names and phone numbers of their spouses. 404 Media also found that one person listed in the data appeared to be a student, described as a “student workforce trainee.”
The FBI has not confirmed that the data was stolen from its systems. The bureau said it is aware of claims that the FBIJobs.gov portal was compromised and that employee information may have been affected. The FBI said it is investigating and working with third-party providers supporting the jobs portal, according to Reuters.
ShinyHunters previously claimed it breached multiple FBI-related services and obtained information on FBI employees and applicants. The group said it carried out the breach to pressure the FBI to correct or remove a Quarter 2 FLASH report it claims contains false allegations about the group.