High School Hacker Leaks CIA and DHS Officials Personal Information

An anonymous person whose claiming to have hacked into the AOL email account belonging to John Brennan, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has since released a small portion of data, including a spreadsheet with the alleged personal information of a number of current and former intelligence officials. The leaked CIA and DHS data includes phone numbers, Social Security numbers, email addresses and the level of security clearance and employment status of current and former officials.

As the leaked data has yet to be verified, several news agencies reached out to the contact methods listed, including the phone, text and email, however none of the numbers responded. In on case, a journalist was able to get through on a number listed Jami Miscik, the deputy director of at the CIA, and when the journalist asked for her by name, the voice said it was the wrong number and promptly hung up.

Early Monday, prior to the initial release, the hacker told the New York Post that he stole sensitive documents that were allegedly stored in Brennan’s AOL account. Included was a 47-page application for a top-secret security clearance level.

Other emails stored in Brennan’s non-government email account contained the Social Security numbers and personal information of more than a dozen top American intelligence officials, alongside a government letter speaking on the use of “harsh interrogation techniques” on terrorism suspects, the high school hacker added.

He said the stolen documents were stored in about 40plain-text emails as attachments, which he claims to have had access to since October 12.

News of the CIA director John Brennan’s email hacking arose through Twitter, under the handle @_CWA_ which has since been suspended since the release of the information.

Following the attack, CNN has since reported that the FBI and Secret Service have released statements that they are currently investigating the matter. CWA, who told the Post he was a high-school student, claimed he was able to social engineer a Verizon customer service tech, providing them with Brennan’s personal information so he could gain access back into the intelligence officers account.

Throughout numerous tweets, CWA has made it clear that he will not accept any media inquiries or interviews, stating his motive behind the attack was “#FreeGaza #FreePalestine. Fuckin government funding terrorism.” CWA said he is not from Palestine, but is an Italian activist residing in New York.

The case has been handed over to the FBI among several other federal agencies who are investigating the alleged email hack. The Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Sy Lee declined to elaborate of the Brennan’s alleged email hack, citing media reports for information. “We are aware of the media report, however as a matter of policy, we do not comment on the Secretary’s personal security.”