FBI Agents Fear for Their Safety After Massive Data Breach

FBI agents at risk after ShinyHunters hack exposes sensitive data; group demands advisory retraction, no ransom. FBI is investigating.

By Content Team

Sep 28, 2026

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Current and former FBI agents have told the BBC they are frightened and angry after ShinyHunters claimed it stole personal data covering much of the agency's workforce. Samples seen by reporters include names, home addresses, phone numbers, badge numbers, job titles, and spouse details, along with fitness-for-work medical examination records. One sample file alone covered nearly 5,000 employees.

The group says it took the data from HR systems, a medical service, the FBIjobs.gov careers portal, an Oracle PeopleSoft server, and AWS GovCloud. The FBI has said it is investigating unauthorised activity affecting FBIjobs.gov, which also holds records on people who applied for jobs. 404 Media verified some records against public sources, though the full set remains unverified.

ShinyHunters wants no money. It is demanding the FBI retract a May 15 public service announcement that warned the group harasses victims and their families, carries out swatting, and sometimes exaggerates what it has stolen. Cynthia Kaiser, the FBI's former deputy director of cyber, says some data is already circulating among researchers. Staff have been told to use a data-removal service, which one former agent considers inadequate.

Source: BBC News

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