Kane Gamble, now 18, was able to access Brennan's emails, contacts, and his iCloud storage account after several successful attempts to manipulate information out of the call center employees. Brennan's emails were sent to WikiLeaks and published on October 26, 2015.

Gamble used similar "social engineering" techniques to gain accdess to former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, tricked the FBI helpdesk into believing he was then-Deputy Director Mark Giuliano.

It was a common misconception that the group were hackers when in fact they used "social engineering" to gain access to emails, phones, computers and law enforcement portals.

"It involves manipulating people, invariably call centre or help desk staff, into permitting acts or divulging confidential information," the prosecutor said. -Telegraph