FBI Takes Down Handala Hacker Group’s Sites After Stryker Attack

The FBI and Justice Department seized two websites connected to Handala, a pro-Iranian hacktivist group that breached medical device maker Stryker last week.

Handala claimed responsibility for the attack on Stryker, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of orthopedic implants and surgical equipment. The group posted stolen data online as proof of the intrusion. The nature and scope of what was accessed remains unclear, but the hack forced Stryker to take systems offline to contain the damage.

The takedown of Handala’s web infrastructure marks a swift federal response. Law enforcement identified and seized the group’s digital footprint days after the initial breach became public. Stryker hasn’t disclosed whether it paid a ransom or how the attackers initially penetrated its network.

Handala has been active for years, targeting organizations across the Middle East and beyond. The group’s attacks typically involve stealing data and publishing it publicly if victims don’t comply with demands. This Stryker incident is one of the most high-profile hits against a major U.S. corporation attributed to the group.