Hackers claim breach of FBI Director Kash Patel’s email; data appears authentic, says report
Washington: A group of hackers with alleged links to Iran has claimed that it breached the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel and published related material online, according to a Reuters report.
The group, identifying itself as Handala Hack Team, said on its website that Patel had been added to its list of targets. It also released photographs and documents said to be from his inbox.
A United States Justice Department official confirmed that Patel’s email account had been compromised and said the material circulating online appears to be genuine.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has not issued an immediate response to the development. The hacker group also did not respond to media queries.
Handala describes itself as a pro-Palestinian hacker collective. Western cybersecurity researchers have previously linked the group to Iranian government-backed cyber units.
The group had earlier claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Michigan-based medical devices company Stryker on March 11, alleging that it had deleted a large amount of company data.
According to the report, the email address said to have been accessed by the hackers matches one that had surfaced in earlier data breaches documented by dark web intelligence firm District 4 Labs.
A review of the leaked material suggests that it contains a mix of personal and professional emails dating between 2010 and 2019.
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Allahabad HC orders police protection to married couple apprehending 'honour killing'
Prayagraj (PTI): The Allahabad High Court has granted protection to a married couple who expressed fear that they may be killed by the woman's family.
The order was passed by a division bench comprising Justice JJ Munir and Justice Tarun Saxena on March 25.
"No individual can make an 'honour issue' out of a consenting adult marrying a person of their own choice. It is the state's duty to protect the life, limb, and property of such persons even against their own family members," the bench said.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Prachi Agrawal and her partner, who sought relief in connection with an FIR filed under Section 87 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for kidnapping, and abducting or inducing a woman to compel her marriage.
The couple submitted that they married at an Arya Samaj temple and possessed a marriage registration certificate issued under the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017.
The petitioners alleged that the woman's family members were averse to their marriage and lodged a bogus FIR against them.
The couple further submitted a joint affidavit expressing apprehension of an honour killing by the woman's family.
The court said that a prima facie case was made out and issued notice to the private respondent and granted two weeks to file a counter-affidavit.
Meanwhile, as an interim measure, the court granted the petitioners protection from arrest.
The court also explicitly ordered the woman's family members and relatives not to harm the petitioners, enter their matrimonial home, or establish contact with them directly or through any electronic means.
The bench directed the Aligarh senior superintendent of police to ensure that no harm comes to the couple and posted the matter for hearing on April 8.
