HYDERABAD, India (GizTimes) — Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice have taken control of two websites linked to the hacktivist group Handala. The action came soon after the group claimed it carried out a cyberattack on Stryker Corporation.
Now, when people visit these websites, they see a notice from U.S. authorities. It says the sites were used for cyber activities connected to a foreign state actor. One site was used to share the group’s updates, while the other posted personal information of people linked to companies like Elbit Systems and NSO Group.
Officials have not shared many details yet, including whether anyone has been arrested. However, technical checks show that the websites are now under FBI control.
The group responded on Telegram, saying the action was meant to silence them. They also said they will continue their work. Around the same time, their account on X was suspended.
The action follows a cyberattack the group claimed to have carried out on Stryker. Reports say the attackers got access to an internal account and entered the company’s system. They then took control of its device management system, called Intune, which is developed by Microsoft.
The attack led to many devices in the company’s network being wiped, which affected its operations. The investigation is being handled by Microsoft’s security team and other cybersecurity experts. Some claims made by the group, like the total number of systems affected and data stolen, have not been confirmed.
Stryker has said it is still working to fix its systems. The case has drawn attention because the company has a recent contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, showing how such attacks can be linked to larger global tensions.
Public reactions on Reddit are mostly practical and a bit skeptical. Some users feel the seized websites were not very important to the group’s actual work. They believe the sites were mainly used to show the results of their hacks, like posting stolen data or making announcements, rather than planning attacks. In simple terms, they see these websites as a kind of public display or “digital notice board.” Because of this, many think taking them down will not stop the group’s real activities.
Some users also said such groups already expect their websites to be removed sooner or later, so they are likely ready with backup options. Overall, people are not surprised by the action, but they are unsure how much difference it will actually make.
Even though the websites have been taken down, such groups often continue their activities through other platforms, so the situation is still developing.
