A notorious cybercrime group known as ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for stealing more than 2 terabytes of data from FBI systems, including detailed personal information about thousands of employees and job applicants, according to a report by Axios.
The stolen data includes names, agent statuses, emails, phone numbers, home addresses, Social Security numbers, and even spouse information, according to ShinyHunters. cyber experts told Axios that stealing sensitive personal data specifically about FBI employees marks a notably bold escalation While cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers have been infiltrating US IT systems for years. The group posted on its dark‑web site that it had obtained “very sensitive data on almost ALL FBI agents and individuals who filed an application with the FBI for a job. The concern isn’t just the breach itself — it’s what happens next. Stolen data of this kind is routinely traded on the dark web, effectively putting it up for sale to whichever buyer is willing to pay the most.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed the bureau is “aware of claims regarding unauthorized activity affecting FBIjobs.gov and is currently investigating.
Cynthia Kaiser, a former senior official in the FBI’s cyber division, told Axios that when hackers target the FBI directly, the bureau typically responds by dedicating extra resources to bringing those responsible to justice more quickly than in a typical case. The stolen dataset includes names, agents’ employment status, email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses, and in some cases even spouse information — including Social Security numbers, according to ShinyHunters. The group also claims it accessed the FBI’s criminal justice and HR systems, among other internal services, and says it defaced the bureau’s jobs webpage by exploiting a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle’s PeopleSoft platform. Former FBI cyber division official Cynthia Kaiser told Axios that when hackers target the FBI, the bureau typically “marshals additional resources to bring them more quickly to justice.”
That site remained offline as of Tuesday afternoon.