The FBI arrested a Canadian cybersecurity executive and ransomware expert as part of an investigation into a damaging hack that exposed sensitive data of current and former FBI employees, according to court documents and people familiar with the investigation.
Edward Dubrovsky was arrested in the Philadelphia area in recent days and appeared in federal court there Thursday. A magistrate judge appointed a federal public defender to represent him during the appearance.
Dubrovsky is facing charges related to extortion and making threats. He has been transferred to Texas's Eastern District for a scheduled detention hearing, according to court records and a law enforcement official.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on Friday. Patel did not disclose the location of the arrest or specify what role Dubrovsky is suspected of playing in the hack, and did not name the suspect in his public announcement.
The hack exposed confidential information belonging to both current and former FBI employees. The investigation into the breach led authorities to identify Dubrovsky as a key suspect in the case.