The FBI is investigating claims by the hacking group ShinyHunters that it breached the bureau's jobs website, FBIjobs.gov. The site, which serves as the main portal for prospective employees to learn about the agency and initiate the application process, remained offline Wednesday morning.
The cyber-extortion outfit claims to have stolen a major tranche of sensitive files, including data on thousands of current and former employees as well as job applicants. The stolen information allegedly contains granular details about bureau officials' job assignments, including sensitive work against drug cartels, Russian intelligence, and Chinese spies.
While the FBI has not confirmed the extent of the breach, it acknowledged it is investigating claims of unauthorized activity. The theft of this personal information could present a major counterintelligence threat, creating a risk where agents and their families are extorted into cooperating with a foreign government.