Two Teens Arrested After Cyberattack on UK Nursery Chain Kido
Two 17-year-old boys were arrested in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, following a cyberattack on the British nursery school chain Kido. Around 8,000 children were impacted, with 20 children's pictures, names, and addresses published online. The attack, led by the Met's cybercrime unit, involved extortion attempts using phone calls and bitcoin demands.
The hackers, part of the Radiant group, targeted Kido using a poorly constructed darknet website. They exploited the contact details of parents and carers, making phone calls to pressure the chain into paying an extortion fee in bitcoin. The attack was described as a 'chilling reminder' of the potential for children to be cybercrime targets by Matt Hull of NCC Group.
The investigation, involving private sector assistance, led to the arrests. The boys are being questioned on suspicion of computer misuse and blackmail. Following public outcry, the hackers blurred the uploaded children's images and claimed to have withdrawn their bitcoin demand.
The arrests highlight the seriousness of cybercrime targeting children. The investigation continues, with the boys suspected of computer misuse and blackmail. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential for children to be vulnerable to online threats.
