hacked FBI mail server; attackers blame cybersecurity consultant

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The FBI confirmed on Saturday that its servers had been hacked and that fraudulent spam emails had been sent to more than 100,000 people, the Washington Post reported.

These emails, which were sent to publicly traded web administrators, warned of an impending cyberattack orchestrated by hacker group TheDarkOverlord and “white hat” cybersecurity consultant Vinny Troia.

The text of the email incorrectly identified the FBI as part of the US Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of Justice. It also used highly technical jargon, including references to “virtualized clusters” and “fast-flow technologies”, and contained several spelling and grammar errors.

The FBI said in a statement Sunday morning that it “is unable to provide further information at this time.” Troia, however, suggested the hack was designed as a vengeful smear campaign against him. Troia’s company, Night Lion Security, released a report last year that identified by name several members of the hacker group with whom the spam emails claimed Troia was affiliated.

In 2017, TheDarkOverlord carried out ransomware attacks against Disney and Netflix and forced school closures by threatening the lives of students in several US school districts.

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