Iranian hackers, Handala, claim to compromise FBI Director Kash Patel\u2019s personal data | CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"Iranian hacking group Handala claims to have leaked personal emails and documents belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel. The FBI confirmed the targeting but maintains the breach involves "historical" personal data rather than classified government systems.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/handala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Iranian hackers, Handala, claim to compromise FBI Director Kash Patel\u2019s personal data\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Iranian hacking group Handala claims to have leaked personal emails and documents belonging to FBI Director Kash Patel. The FBI confirmed the targeting but maintains the breach involves "historical" personal data rather than classified government systems.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/handala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email\/\"> <meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CyberScoop\"> <meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/cyberscoop\/\"> <meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T17:28:26+00:00\"> <meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-27T17:28:29+00:00\"> <meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg\"> <meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\"> <meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\"> <meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\"> <meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tim Starks\"> <meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\"> <meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@timstarks\"> <meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@CyberScoopNews\">  <link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/securepubads.g.doubleclick.net\">\n<link rel=\"dns-prefetch\" href=\"\/\/use.typekit.net\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/feed\/\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" type=\"application\/rss+xml\" title=\"CyberScoop \u00bb Comments Feed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/comments\/feed\/\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-includes\/css\/dist\/block-library\/style.min.css?m=1774626878g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/mu-plugins\/search\/elasticpress\/dist\/css\/related-posts-block-styles.min.css?m=1774625888g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"all-css-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/themes\/scoopnewsgroup\/dist\/css\/frontend.css?m=1773271249g\" type=\"text\/css\" media=\"all\">\n<link rel=\"stylesheet\" id=\"typekit-css\" href=\"https:\/\/use.typekit.net\/itk2qbh.css?ver=13897d660a0ac2c9c7d1\" media=\"all\"> <link rel=\"https:\/\/api.w.org\/\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/\"><link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"JSON\" type=\"application\/json\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88437\"><meta name=\"generator\" content=\"WordPress 6.8.5\">\n<link rel=\"shortlink\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88437\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (JSON)\" type=\"application\/json+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fhandala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email%2F\">\n<link rel=\"alternate\" title=\"oEmbed (XML)\" type=\"text\/xml+oembed\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-json\/oembed\/1.0\/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcyberscoop.com%2Fhandala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email%2F&format=xml\">   <link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=32\" sizes=\"32x32\">\n<link rel=\"icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=192\" sizes=\"192x192\">\n<link rel=\"apple-touch-icon\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=180\">\n<meta name=\"msapplication-TileImage\" content=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/01\/cropped-cs_favicon-2.png?w=270\"> <\/head><body class=\"wp-singular post-template-default single single-post postid-88437 single-format-standard wp-theme-scoopnewsgroup wp-child-theme-cyberscoop\" id=\"readabilityBody\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/handala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email\/#main\" class=\"skip-to-content-link visually-hidden-focusable\">Skip to main content<\/a> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-desktop\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p> <main id=\"main\" role=\"main\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--top ad--top-mobile\">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"stickybar\" class=\"stickybar stickybar--newsletter js-stickybar\" readability=\"0.82\"> <button class=\"stickybar__close js-stickybar-close\" aria-controls=\"stickybar\"> <svg class=\"icon icon--close\" width=\"21\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 22\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"m.822.518-.805.805L9.695 11 .017 20.678l.805.805 9.678-9.678 9.677 9.678.806-.805L11.305 11l9.678-9.677-.806-.805-9.677 9.677L.822.518Z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg> <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Close<\/span> <\/button> <\/section>\n<article class=\"single-article content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__container js-single-article-content\">\n<header class=\"single-article__header \" readability=\"26.137380191693\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"35.15\">\n<ul class=\"single-article__eyebrow\">\n<li class=\"single-article__category\"> <a class=\"single-article__category-link\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/handala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email\/\"> <span>Government<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> The FBI said it was aware of hackers targeting Patel\u2019s personal email, and that no government information was taken. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/88437\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1\" class=\"single-article__cover-image wp-post-image\" alt decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=506,337 506w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=1013,675 1013w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-2.jpg?resize=1265,843 1265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px\"><figcaption> FBI Director Kash Patel testifies during the Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on “Worldwide Threats” in the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Bill Clark\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"23.921064013841\"><body readability=\"51.359658484525\"><\/p>\n<p>Iranian hackers claimed Friday to have compromised the personal data of FBI Director Kash Patel, and the bureau confirmed that it knew of the targeting of Patel\u2019s personal email.<\/p>\n<p>The government-connected hacking group, Handala, previously <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/stryker-cyberattack-iranian-hackers-handala\/\">claimed credit<\/a> for hacking medical device maker Stryker, a boast that threat researchers considered credible.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll personal and confidential email of Kash Patel, including emails, conversations, documents, and even classified files, is now available for public download,\u201d Handala \u2014 also known as Handala Hack \u2014 said.<\/p>\n<p>The group said it did so in response to the FBI <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-disrupts-iranian-cyber-enabled-psychological-operations\">seizing its domains<\/a> and the U.S. government offering a $10 million reward for information on members of the group.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The FBI noted that Handala frequently targets government officials, and challenged elements of Handala\u2019s claims, such as that it had brought the FBI\u2019s systems \u201cto its knees,\u201d rather than Patel\u2019s own email.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe FBI is aware of malicious actors targeting Director Patel\u2019s personal email information, and we have taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks associated with this activity,\u201d the FBI said in response to questions from CyberScoop. \u201cThe information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The activist group Distributed Denial of Secrets published what it said was Patel\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/ddosecrets.org\/article\/kash-patel-emails\">email cache<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI pointed to the State Department\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/rewardsforjustice.net\/rewards\/foreign-malicious-cyber-activity-against-u-s-critical-infrastructure\/\">reward program<\/a> seeking information on members of Handala.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cConsistent with President Trump\u2019s Cyber Strategy for America, the FBI will continue to pursue the actors responsible, support victims, and share actionable intelligence in defense of networks,\u201d it said. \u201cWe encourage anyone who experiences a cyber breach, or has information related to malicious cyber activity, to contact their local FBI field office.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div class=\"popular-stories__container\">\n<h2 class=\"popular-stories__title\"> More Scoops <\/h2>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<section class=\"latest-podcasts\">\n<h2 class=\"latest-podcasts__title\"> Latest Podcasts\t<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"top-categories\">\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Government<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"top-categories__container\">\n<h3 class=\"top-categories__category-title\">Technology<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> <\/main> <\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--bottom \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"interstitial\" class=\"welcome__container\"> <button id=\"close-modal-1\" class=\"welcome__clickable_area\"><\/button> <\/p>\n<div class=\"welcome__ad_wrapper\">\n<p> <button id=\"close-modal-3\" class=\"welcome__continue-button\">Continue to CyberScoop<\/button> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>   <\/body> <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/handala-hackers-target-fbi-director-kash-patel-email\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iranian hackers, Handala, claim to compromise FBI Director Kash Patel\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6285,669,302,117,6192,2379,513,3634,1923,318,288],"tags":[6286,671,306,119,6199,2380,517,3640,1924,319,294],"class_list":["post-8474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-distributed-denial-of-secrets","category-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi","category-geopolitics","category-government","category-handala","category-handala-hack","category-iran","category-kash-patel","category-rewards-for-justice-program","category-state-department","category-threats","tag-distributed-denial-of-secrets","tag-federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi","tag-geopolitics","tag-government","tag-handala","tag-handala-hack","tag-iran","tag-kash-patel","tag-rewards-for-justice-program","tag-state-department","tag-threats"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":"","chromenews-featured":"","chromenews-large":"","chromenews-medium":""},"author_info":{"display_name":"Cyber Scoop","author_link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/author\/cyberscoop\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/distributed-denial-of-secrets\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Distributed Denial of Secrets<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/federal-bureau-of-investigation-fbi\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/geopolitics\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Geopolitics<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/government\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Government<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/handala\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Handala<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/handala-hack\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Handala Hack<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/iran\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Iran<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/kash-patel\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Kash Patel<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/rewards-for-justice-program\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Rewards for Justice program<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/state-department\/\" rel=\"category tag\">State Department<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/category\/threats\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Threats<\/a>","tag_info":"Threats","comment_count":"0","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8474"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8474\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

{"id":8474,"date":"2026-03-27T12:28:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=88437"},"modified":"2026-03-27T12:28:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T17:28:26","slug":"iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/27\/iranian-hackers-handala-claim-to-compromise-fbi-director-kash-patels-personal-data\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian hackers, Handala, claim to compromise FBI Director Kash Patel\u2019s personal data"},"content":{"rendered":"