Hackers who breached the AOL email account of CIA Director John Brennan have not only evaded arrest, but now are suspected of another embarrassing set of intrusions, including accessing a sensitive FBI-run law enforcement portal and a private email account of the FBI’s No. 2 official.
The hackers, who call themselves Crackas With Attitude, on Friday posted personal data of law enforcement officials that appears to have been stolen from the Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal. The site connects local and federal law enforcement officials and allows local, state and federal agencies to share information, including of ongoing investigations.
Three U.S. law enforcement officials confirmed the site, also known as LEO.gov, was breached and user personal data was stolen. Law enforcement users of the portal received notices that their data may have been compromised, according to one such notice reviewed by CNN.
A Twitter account believed by investigators to be linked to the hackers posted screenshots Thursday that appeared to come from a private email account belonging to FBI Deputy Director Mark Giuliano and his wife.
The three U.S. law enforcement officials said the same hackers who accessed Brennan’s email account are believed to be behind the latest apparent hacks.
The FBI declined to comment on the alleged intrusions.
“We have no comment on specific claims of hacktivism, but those who engage in such activities are breaking the law,” FBI spokeswoman Carol Cratty said. “The FBI takes these matters very seriously. We will work with our public and private sector partners to identify and hold accountable those who engage in illegal activities in cyberspace.”
The Twitter account believed to be connected to the hackers also posted data that appeared to come from the LEO.gov site, including names and contact information of law enforcement employees.
In the week after the Brennan hack, which was revealed last month, FBI officials were confident they would quickly make arrests within days. But the investigation has proved more complicated than first thought.
One U.S. official said the hackers managed to cover their tracks well, but the official expressed confidence they would be found.