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ShinyHunters Dumps 5,000 SSNs After FBI Portal Breach

By Drooid · Sep 30, 2026, 3:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

ShinyHunters stole personnel data from the FBI jobs portal and demanded a retraction of a May advisory.
The group gave the FBI a one-week deadline that expired on Tuesday.
ShinyHunters released a 5,000-line sample containing names and addresses and Social Security numbers.
FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman warned arrests would reveal remaining members’ identities.
Dutch police arrested 24-year-old Pepijn van der Stap in Amsterdam on September 15 also investigating alleged murder-for-hire attempts.

History

Historical Context

In 2015, the Office of Personnel Management breach exposed 21.5 million federal employees’ records, forcing the agency to shut its recruitment system and prompting cybersecurity reforms. The U.S. government allocated $1.5 billion for network upgrades, while OPM settled a $5 million lawsuit and required multi-factor authentication for federal portals. Similarly, ShinyHunters compromised the FBI jobs portal, releasing a 5,000-line sample of personal data and demanding a retraction, threatening further leaks if the advisory remained. Law-enforcement arrests, including Dutch police detaining Pepijn van der Stap, underscore ongoing challenges in deterring cyber-extortion against federal agencies and highlight the need for international cooperation.

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Story summary

ShinyHunters stole personnel data from the FBI jobs portal and demanded a retraction of a May advisory.
The group gave the FBI a one-week deadline that expired on Tuesday.
ShinyHunters released a 5,000-line sample containing names and addresses and Social Security numbers.
FBI Assistant Director Brett Leatherman warned arrests would reveal remaining members’ identities.
Dutch police arrested 24-year-old Pepijn van der Stap in Amsterdam on September 15 also investigating alleged murder-for-hire attempts.

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