Teenager, who hacked personal accounts of CIA chief, targets DNI chief too

The hacker has said he is a high school student protesting U.S. policy

January 13, 2016 11:09 am | Updated September 23, 2016 12:12 am IST - WASHINGTON:

CIA Director John Brennan

CIA Director John Brennan

Just months after reports that someone was hacking Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan’s personal e-mail, a U.S. intelligence official is confirming that online personal accounts linked to Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper also have been hacked.

DNI spokesman Brian Hale said on Tuesday that Mr. Clapper’s office “is aware of the hacking and has reported the incident” to appropriate authorities. He declined to provide other details.

An individual not authorised to discuss details who spoke only on condition of anonymity, said that the Office of the DNI was aware of the hacking incident before it was first reported on Tuesday by Motherboard , an online magazine and video channel on science and technology.

Same teenage hacker

Motherboard reported that the same teenage hacker who broke into Mr. Brennan’s account also targeted Mr. Clapper.

Mr. Brennan said in October that he was outraged that someone hacked his personal e-mail account and publicised sensitive data, including his contact list and his wife’s government iD number.

Boy says he fooled Verizon

The hacker has said he is a high school student protesting U.S. policy. He said he fooled Verizon into providing him access to Mr. Brennan’s account.

Mr. Brennan has denied any impropriety on his part and said the hacking incident underscores that everyone is vulnerable to the compromise of personal information on the Internet.

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