17-year-old arrested for role in MGM Resorts cyberattack

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A 17-year-old has been arrested in the UK for his involvement in last year’s cyberattack on MGM Resorts. The FBI and the UK’s National Crime Agency helped in the arrest.

The teen is suspected of hacking and blackmail, and police have seized several digital devices from his home in Walsall, England.

In September 2023, MGM Resorts faced a massive cyberattack that disrupted its operations for days. The hackers used social engineering to breach MGM’s systems and deploy ransomware. The attack was carried out by the ALPHV (BlackCat) group in collaboration with Scattered Spider.

The breach affected hotel reservations and slot machines and exposed sensitive customer data like names, driver’s license numbers, and social security numbers.

MGM estimated the financial impact to be around $100 million.

The Arrest and Its Significance

The arrest of the teenager is a major step in the investigation of the MGM cyberattack. The suspect is believed to be part of Scattered Spider, a group linked to several high-profile cyberattacks.

This arrest sends a strong message that cybercriminals will be pursued relentlessly. Bryan Vorndran, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, stated, “

The FBI, in coordination with its partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue malicious actors who target American companies, no matter where they may be located efor how sophisticated their techniques are.”

The Role of ALPHV and Scattered Spider

The ALPHV ransomware group, also known as BlackCat, uses social engineering to gain access to systems and deploy ransomware.

The MGM attack was a coordinated effort with Scattered Spider, resulting in significant disruption (Forbes, CyberNews).

Moving Forward

The MGM ransomware attack highlights the importance of strong cybersecurity measures. Businesses and individuals must remain vigilant and learn from this incident to protect against future threats.

The arrest is a step towards justice and shows the need for global cooperation in tackling cybercrime.

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Kevin Raposo

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com.