Teenager accused of hacking FBI arrested in Jordan

A teenager has been arrested in Jordan in connection with a major cyber incident involving the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to sources cited by Reuters.

The suspect, identified as Saifuddin Khidr, is also being investigated over suspected links to the ShinyHunters hacking group, one of the prominent names in recent cybercrime investigations.

The FBI has not publicly confirmed the suspect’s identity or his arrest.

ShinyHunters previously said it had breached an FBI employment-related website and stolen more than two terabytes of data belonging to agency employees.

The group said the stolen information included employees’ phone numbers, home addresses, medical information and other sensitive data. The extent and authenticity of the alleged breach have not been independently verified.

The FBI said it was conducting an aggressive investigation into a recent cyber incident allegedly connected to ShinyHunters.

The agency said several suspects had been arrested with the assistance of law-enforcement partners and that every available resource would be used to identify and prosecute those responsible.

Reuters, citing sources, said Khidr has been cooperating with the FBI and law-enforcement agencies from other countries following his arrest and has provided information that could help investigators locate other members of the group.

Dutch authorities also arrested a 24-year-old man in Amsterdam last week over suspected links to ShinyHunters. He is additionally suspected of attempting to incite two people to carry out killings.