EXCLUSIVE: Friend of suspected FBI data thief says he warned 'crazy' teen not to hack bureau - Reuters

A 19-year-old acquaintance of the teenager suspected of orchestrating a significant data breach against the FBI has stated that he repeatedly urged the youth to abandon the plan. Adem El Adeb reported that he warned the suspect, identified as 17-year-old Saif al-Din Khader, that targeting the bureau would invite severe repercussions from the United States government.

In a series of message exchanges that took place in early September, El Adeb described the proposed hack as a suicidal endeavor. He stated that he advised the teen multiple times to cease his efforts, labeling the plan as reckless. Despite these warnings, El Adeb noted that Khader remained undeterred.

The breach in question has been attributed to the hacking group known as ShinyHunters, in which Khader is alleged to have played a central role. While the full extent of the compromised information has not been independently verified, the FBI has informed its staff that it is operating under the assumption that the stolen data includes information pertaining to all bureau employees.

Khader was taken into custody in Jordan on September 29. Individuals familiar with the situation indicate that he is currently cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the incident. The FBI has publicly stated that it is aggressively investigating the activities of the ShinyHunters group but declined to comment on the specific accounts provided by El Adeb.

Attempts to reach Khader, his family members, or legal representatives for comment have thus far been unsuccessful. The FBI continues to manage the fallout from the security incident, which has significantly impacted the bureau’s internal operations.