Kash Patel announces arrest of suspected ShinyHunters co-conspirator after FBI jobs portal breach
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Friday that agents arrested another suspected co-conspirator linked to the ShinyHunters hacking group earlier this week during the bureau's investigation of a cybersecurity incident involving its jobs website.
The arrest is the latest in a series of FBI actions against the hacking network in recent days, according to Patel, who said investigators are pursuing additional leads and evidence.
"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.
FBI INVESTIGATES AFTER SHINYHUNTERS HACKERS CLAIM THEFT OF AGENTS' PERSONAL DATA
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.
16-YEAR-OLD ALLEGEDLY LED RANSOMWARE GANG BEHIND HUNDREDS OF ATTACKS
The group said it stole information belonging to nearly all FBI agents and people who applied to work for the bureau, Reuters previously reported. 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. The extent of the alleged breach has not been independently confirmed.
Jason Pack, a retired FBI supervisory special agent and CEO of Media Rep Global Strategies, previously told Fox News Digital the distinction between stolen personnel information and access to classified investigative systems is critical.
FBI HACK CLAIM RAISES FEARS OVER SENSITIVE PERSONAL DATA
"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."
A representative for the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.