Russian cybercrime organization LockBit claims to possess “classified information” that could “destroy” the FBI, targeting newly confirmed FBI Director Kash Patel with veiled threats disguised as congratulatory remarks.
Well…that’s not good.
At a Glance
- LockBit, a notorious Russian ransomware gang, has resurfaced after supposed FBI disruption with claims of holding damaging information on the FBI
- The group’s message directly addressed Kash Patel, who was recently confirmed as FBI Director in a narrow 51-49 Senate vote
- LockBit claims its operations were actually intended to improve U.S. national security while accusing FBI agents of being “professional manipulators”
- Cybersecurity experts dismiss the group’s claims as likely false, suggesting they’re seeking attention after operational disruptions
New FBI Director Targeted by Russian Cybercriminals
The Senate recently confirmed Kash Patel as the new FBI Director with a razor-thin 51-49 vote, reflecting deep partisan divisions over his appointment. Patel, a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump, faced unified opposition from Democrats and lost support from Republican Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski during the confirmation process. The controversial new Director has openly criticized the FBI in the past and pledged major reforms, including reducing the bureau’s Washington presence and refocusing efforts on traditional crime-fighting activities.
Shortly after Patel’s confirmation, the Russian ransomware organization LockBit posted a message on its leak site specifically addressing the new Director. The group, which was believed to have been disrupted by FBI operations earlier this year, claimed to possess classified information that could potentially damage the FBI’s reputation. In their message, LockBit congratulated Patel on his appointment before warning him that FBI agents under his supervision were “professional manipulators” working against his interests.
Democrats vigorously opposed Patel’s confirmation, citing concerns about his qualifications, judgment, and perceived loyalty to Trump over the rule of law. And now, after that big win, Russian cybercriminals are making threats to bring down the FBI entirely.
LockBit’s Bizarre Claims
LockBit’s message to Patel took a strange turn when the criminal organization claimed its ransomware operations were actually intended to improve U.S. national security. The group suggested it possessed information that could “destroy” the FBI if made public and portrayed itself as a potential ally to Patel and President Trump. This unusual approach represents a new tactic for the cybercrime organization, which typically focuses on extorting victims after encrypting their systems.
“You are surrounded by liars, professional manipulators, respected Kash Patel. The so-called ‘agents’ who are under your supervision are tricky manipulators, and the whole point of their manipulation is to do nothing, but you have to do something about it, Mr. Kash Patel,” Lockbit said.
Cybersecurity experts largely dismiss LockBit’s claims about possessing damaging FBI information, however.
“Anything coming from LockBit at this point would be publicly available data or just an outright fake claim,” security expert Dominic Alvieri told reporters. Security professionals suggest the group’s message is more likely an attempt to garner attention after the disruption to their operations than a genuine threat based on actual intelligence.
Well, we’ll soon see.
