January 1, Kash Patel Delivers Major Blow to Cyber Criminals

Wyatt’s Take

• Kash Patel is showing Americans that the FBI will hunt down hackers who target federal jobs and personal data.
• Another arrest proves the bureau is serious about protecting citizens from foreign cyber threats and digital extortion.
• Real leadership at the FBI means stopping these attacks instead of making excuses for them.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that agents arrested another suspected co-conspirator linked to the ShinyHunters hacking group earlier this week.

The bureau is investigating a cybersecurity incident involving its jobs website.

“Earlier this week, our agents in the field arrested another suspected co-conspirator of the ShinyHunters group – the group believed to be responsible for the recent FBIjobs.gov incident, which occurred on a platform managed by a third-party vendor,” Patel said in an Oct. 9 statement.

Patel said the FBI is working with its partners to dismantle the group and its associates.

“This arrest demonstrates the strength and reach of our efforts to protect Americans from cybercrime. We will continue to work closely with our partners to disrupt what’s left of the ShinyHunters group and their associates, no matter where they operate.”

ShinyHunters, a criminal hacking and extortion group, previously said it obtained sensitive personal information belonging to FBI employees and applicants through the bureau’s jobs portal.

The group said it stole information belonging to nearly all FBI agents and people who applied to work for the bureau.

A sample of data shared with the outlet contained agents’ names, home addresses, Social Security numbers, assignments and, in some cases, names of family members.

The FBI previously said it was investigating whether the breach originated within its own systems or through a third-party provider supporting FBIJobs.gov.

Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and CEO of Media Rep Global Strategies, previously told Fox News Digital that the distinction between stolen personnel information and access to classified investigative systems is critical.

“There is a meaningful difference between somebody obtaining personnel information and somebody gaining access to classified investigative systems,” Pack said. “Based on what we know right now, there is no indication they have the keys to the kingdom.”

Wyatt Matters

Hardworking Americans expect the government to keep their personal information safe and to punish those who steal it. Kash Patel is delivering on that basic promise.