The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized the website of an Iran-linked hacker group that had claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on a US company amid the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
The website, previously operated by the group known as Handala, was replaced with a notice bearing logos of the FBI and the US Justice Department, stating that the domain had been used to support malicious cyber activities linked to a foreign state actor.
Cybersecurity experts in the US and Israel have associated Handala with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, though US authorities have not officially confirmed the link.
The group had recently claimed responsibility for hacking Stryker Corporation, a Michigan-based medical technology firm, disrupting its order processing, manufacturing and shipping operations.
According to company disclosures, the breach involved access to Microsoft systems, including a device management platform, leading to large-scale deletion of data.
Following the seizure, Handala acknowledged the loss of its website via its Telegram channel and indicated plans to launch a new platform.
Despite the incident, US officials said there has been no significant surge in cyber threats since the conflict began in February. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has advised companies to strengthen security around corporate systems.
Experts noted that while such groups aim to create psychological impact through cyber disruptions, enforcement actions like domain seizures can limit their reach.
