The FBI has arrested a Canadian cybersecurity executive and ransomware expert in connection with a hack that exposed sensitive data of current and former FBI employees, according to court documents and people familiar with the investigation.
Edward Dubrovsky was arrested in the Philadelphia area in recent days and appeared in federal court there Thursday. A magistrate judge appointed a federal public defender to represent him. He faces charges related to extortion and making threats, and he has been transferred to the Eastern District of Texas for a scheduled detention hearing.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest Friday but did not say where it happened or what role the suspect played. Patel described the man as a suspected co-conspirator of the cybercriminal group believed to be behind the hack. CNN confirmed Dubrovsky’s identity through multiple people familiar with the investigation. Dubrovsky did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The hack, claimed last month by the group ShinyHunters, gave access to personal data on thousands of current and former FBI employees, including staff in sensitive units focused on China and Russia. Investigators said others believed to be involved are still being pursued. Last week, Dutch authorities arrested one of the alleged leaders of the group.
An FBI review found that a contractor managing the bureau’s jobs portal had not installed a security patch for an Oracle human-resources software platform, the FBI said. The bureau said it removed the contractor.
