FBI’s Cyber Alert to ShinyHunters
The head of the FBI’s cyber division has a playful warning for the audacious criminals who breached the bureau’s jobs portal last week: “We know how to locate you,” so surrender yourself already. In a video statement following the Dutch National Police’s detention of a 24-year-old whom the FBI identified as “one of the purported leaders of ShinyHunters,” Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, offered some counsel for the “remaining members” of the data theft and extortion syndicate. “We’re sure you’ve seen or heard things in recent days that the public isn’t aware of,” Leatherman remarked.
Arrests Shift the Dynamics
Leatherman noted, “Other groups thought that anonymity or their associates would shield them, and they were mistaken. Arrests change the dynamics of who’s willing to divulge information, and seized infrastructure helps us identify who remains. The longer you continue this, the more we discover about you. You think you can find us, but we can find you too. I recommend you reach out first while you still have the option.”
The FBI declined to respond to GadgetLad’s inquiries regarding the video message, including whether it had confiscated any of the cybercrime group’s infrastructure, and if any members of ShinyHunters had taken Leatherman up on his generous invitation to “reach out first.”
The Dutch Link
Following the Dutch suspect’s arrest, law enforcement announced on Tuesday that they found “a significant amount of information” on the individual’s laptop, “including details about two murders that were planned to be executed abroad. There are signs that the suspect ordered this.” According to FBI Director Kash Patel, federal agents assisted Dutch investigators in apprehending the 24-year-old suspect. In a later tweet, the bureau mentioned that law enforcement seized electronic devices and is pursuing additional leads: “More arrests might occur.”
ShinyHunters’ Less-Than-Shiny Intentions
Earlier last week, ShinyHunters infiltrated the FBIJobs.gov portal and claimed to have stolen sensitive personal information about current, former, and potential FBI personnel. However, unlike the group’s typical theft-and-extortion activities, a spokesperson informed GadgetLad that this particular incident was “NOT financially driven … We want the FBI to amend or retract their statements, which included significant false accusations.”
Engaging in the Not-So-Innocent Game
Subsequently, in an exclusive conversation, the spokesperson told us that this attention-seeking hack would uphold ShinyHunters’ reputation and sustain its “business.” “It’s a game, and it’s the world we navigate,” a ShinyHunters spokesperson stated. “We are simply safeguarding our business like any other enterprise would. It’s about who excels at their job better.”
Summary
Manhunt with a Side of Humble Pie
