FBI Slammed for Slow Response to Hackers Targeting MGM and Caesars

Several U.S. cybersecurity companies have blasted the FBI for failing to stop the hacker attacks on U.S. businesses.

The hackers are from the Scattered Spider group, which has been hitting major U.S. companies since 2021. This fall, they attacked gambling giants MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, costing them over a hundred million dollars.

Four sources told Reuters that the FBI has known the names of at least 12 people involved in the hacking group for more than six months. Some of these criminals live in the U.S.

Michael Sentonas, the CEO of cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, told Reuters that this situation is a failure by the U.S. law enforcement agencies, and the FBI is to blame.

James Foster, the director of another cybersecurity firm, ZeroFox, also criticized the FBI for its slow progress in the investigation. 

He said that the FBI is understaffed and underpaid, and that many of its agents are leaving for private intelligence firms.

Private cybersecurity firms say that about 230 U.S. organizations in different industries, from telecoms to healthcare and casinos, have been hit by the Scattered Spider group since the start of 2022.

The FBI did not give any details about the investigation into the hackers, only saying that it is ongoing.