Recommended Free Tools
ShinyHunters says its operations and infrastructure remain intact after Dutch police arrested a 24-year-old Amsterdam man whom FBI Director Kash Patel described as “one of the alleged leaders” of the group. That is the group’s claim, not independent confirmation that it can still operate. Its separate claim that it breached FBIJobs.gov also remained under investigation, with the FBI not publicly confirming the breach or the scope ShinyHunters alleged.
What happened in the arrest
Dutch police said they arrested a 24-year-old man from Amsterdam on September 15 on suspicion of playing a role in ShinyHunters. On September 29, FBI Director Kash Patel publicly described the suspect as “one of the alleged leaders” of the group, according to The Associated Press. That characterization is an FBI account; the reports do not establish the man’s role as a settled fact or a conviction. ShinyHunters denied he was associated with it.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Accounts of law-enforcement coordination differ in scope. AP reported that the Dutch police announcement did not mention an FBI hack or coordination with U.S. authorities. Patel said the arrest involved coordination between FBI investigators and the Dutch High-Tech Crime Unit. The Dutch announcement should not be read as independently confirming Patel’s account of that coordination. Dutch cybercrime official Stan Duijf said, “Arresting cybercrime suspects is a key intervention in our broad-based fight against this type of crime.”
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteA separate criminal suspicion
Dutch police also said the suspect was suspected of attempting to solicit two murders, based on information found on his laptop. Police explicitly said that suspicion was unrelated to the ShinyHunters investigation; it is a separate matter and should not be conflated with the alleged cybercrime role. AP reported that a Rotterdam court ordered the man held for a further 90 days.
#1 Best Overall
What ShinyHunters means by “fine”
Cybernews reported that ShinyHunters issued a statement saying: “Due to certain disinformation spreading once again, we are releasing this statement to confirm we are okay, our operations and infrastructure remains completely fine as it should be and WILL be.” The statement asserts that the group remains operational. It does not independently demonstrate that its infrastructure is intact, that its members can continue operating, or that the arrest has had no effect.
The group also denied the arrested man was affiliated with it and warned organizations negotiating over allegedly stolen data that the data remained in its possession and could be published. Those are ShinyHunters’ claims, not independent confirmation of its capabilities or possession of any particular organization’s data. The available accounts do not establish whether the arrest disrupted the group or whether it continues to function as before.
The FBIJobs.gov claim remains unresolved
On September 22, ShinyHunters claimed it had compromised FBIJobs.gov and obtained sensitive information about FBI employees and applicants. The FBI said it was aware of claims of unauthorized activity affecting the site and was investigating. In the reporting available as of October 3, 2026, the FBI had not publicly confirmed either that a breach occurred or the full scope claimed by ShinyHunters. CBS News reported that samples supplied to media had not been independently verified as originating from FBI systems.
ShinyHunters later described the episode as a marketing campaign intended to challenge FBI statements about the group, and said it would not publish the data. That explanation and stated intention come from the group. They do not establish whether a breach took place, where any data came from, how much was involved, or what will ultimately happen to it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the alleged scale figures mean
Cybernews and SecurityWeek reported the FBI’s allegation that ShinyHunters and associates breached more than 140 organizations and collected at least $70 million in extortion payments since 2025. These are figures attributed to the FBI’s allegation, not independently audited totals. They provide context for the case, but do not establish the arrested man’s individual role or resolve the FBIJobs.gov claim.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
