Four young suspects arrested in cyberattacks on major UK retailers

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The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested four young people, two 19-year-old men, a 17-year-old boy, and a 20-year-old woman, in connection with a series of cyberattacks on three major UK retailers: Marks & Spencer, Harrods, and Co-op. 

The arrests were made on suspicion of blackmail, money laundering, organized crime, and violating the Computer Misuse Act, which is a law against hacking and other computer-related crimes.

These arrests are part of a larger investigation into a group of hackers believed to be linked to a loose online network known as Scattered Spider. 

This group has been tied to several major cybercrimes. (Via: Engadget)

For example, in 2023, Scattered Spider reportedly forced US casino company Caesars Entertainment to pay millions to keep customer data from being leaked.

In the UK, the attacks happened earlier this year. Marks & Spencer’s online store was hit in April and had to shut down for over a month. 

Around the same time, Co-op experienced an attack that partially disrupted its IT systems, the second time it had been targeted this year. 

Harrods also faced an attempted cyberattack in May but managed to avoid serious damage by temporarily restricting internet access to its websites.

The NCA is taking these incidents seriously. According to Paul Foster, who leads the agency’s cybercrime unit, the case is one of their top priorities. 

Specialized cybercrime investigators have been working quickly to track down those responsible.

All four suspects are currently in custody and are being questioned by authorities. 

The investigation is still ongoing, and the NCA has not yet confirmed whether more arrests will follow.

This case highlights the growing problem of cybercrime targeting big businesses and shows how tech-savvy young people can be drawn into illegal online activities. 

It also reflects how hacking groups like Scattered Spider operate across borders and go after major companies for money and data.

Are you surprised that such young people are behind major cyberattacks on retailers? Or do you think this reflects how early digital natives are getting involved in cybercrime? Tell us below in the comments, or reach us via our Twitter or Facebook.