FBI Investigates Claims of Data Breach by Hacking Group ShinyHunters

The FBI announced on September 23, 2026, that it is investigating the hacking group ShinyHunters following claims that the group stole sensitive data related to FBI agents. The FBI stated, "The FBI is aware of a cyber-criminal enterprise group claiming a compromise of the FBIJobs.gov portal and alleged impact to FBI employee personally identifiable information (PII)." The agency is currently determining the point of breach and is working with third-party providers to mitigate risks. ShinyHunters, known for cyber extortion, claimed responsibility for the breach, stating they accessed the FBI's jobs portal and stole between 2 and 3 terabytes of files. They indicated that the hack was in retaliation for a public service announcement issued by the FBI in May. A spokesperson for the group mentioned that they would publish the stolen data if the FBI did not retract the announcement. The FBI confirmed it is investigating the unauthorized activity affecting FBIJobs.gov. Cynthia Kaiser, a former deputy cyber director of the FBI, expressed concern over the potential risks to agents' safety due to the exposure of personal information. She noted that while ShinyHunters may not be entirely truthful about their claims, they often exaggerate their capabilities. The FBI has previously arrested cybercriminals with the assistance of international law enforcement. The spokesperson for ShinyHunters acknowledged the risks of antagonizing the FBI but stated that their actions were well-planned and coordinated.