Key facts
- A friend of the suspected FBI data thief, Adem El Adeb, said he warned the teen against hacking the bureau.
- El Adeb told the suspect, Saif al-Din Khader, that he was "crazy" and "suicidal" for considering the hack.
Friend of suspected FBI data thief warned teen against hack
IN SHORT
A friend of the teenager accused of stealing a massive data cache from the FBI said he repeatedly warned the suspect against the act, calling him "crazy" and "suicidal." Adem El Adeb, 19, told Reuters he tried to convince Saif al-Din Khader, 17, not to hack the bureau last month, fearing the US government's response. Khader, allegedly a key figure in the ShinyHunters hacking group, was arrested in Jordan on September 29 and is cooperating with investigators.
Key Numbers
19age of Adem El Adeb
17alleged age of Saif al-Din Khader
Who's Involved
Adem El Adeb
friend of suspected FBI data thief who warned him against the hack
Saif al-Din Khader
suspected thief of FBI data, allegedly a key figure in ShinyHunters
ShinyHunters
hacking group that claimed responsibility for the FBI data breach
FBI
federal agency investigating the data breach
↳ Why This Matters
The account highlights the alleged motivations and internal dynamics of young hackers involved in significant data breaches, offering insight into the individuals targeted by law enforcement and the potential risks they face.