(qlmbusinessnews.com . Fri 23nd May, 2025) London, UK —
Teen Hackers Suspected in UK Retail Cyber Attacks, Say Crime Agency
A spate of cyber attacks targeting prominent UK retailers has left shelves empty, online orders in disarray, and customer data exposed—prompting a major investigation by British authorities.
Now, in a rare public statement, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has named the cybercriminal group known as *Scattered Spider* as a central focus in their inquiries. Speaking to the BBC, Paul Foster, who leads the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, confirmed the agency is actively investigating the group in connection with recent ransomware attacks.
“We are looking at the group that is publicly known as Scattered Spider,” Foster stated, adding that catching the culprits is currently their “top priority.”
Scattered Spider stands out in the cybercrime world. Unlike many high-profile hacking groups typically traced to countries like Russia or North Korea, this group is believed to comprise primarily English-speaking teenagers—possibly from the UK and the United States. They reportedly communicate across platforms such as Discord, Telegram, and dark web forums.
The cyberattacks have caused widespread disruption. Marks & Spencer’s systems were crippled by ransomware, leaving their shelves understocked and online services offline for weeks. Sensitive customer and employee data has also been stolen. At the Co-op, while ransomware infection was prevented by proactively shutting down systems, hackers still managed to access significant amounts of private data. Their funeral services and supermarket operations have suffered substantial impact.
Harrods, meanwhile, has confirmed it pulled its IT systems offline due to an attempted attack, but further details remain sparse.
The malware toolkit allegedly used in these breaches, known as DragonForce, allows users to deploy ransomware easily—raising concerns about how accessible such powerful cyber weapons have become.
Despite suspicions, no arrests have been made and the true identities of those behind the attacks remain unknown. When the BBC contacted the perpetrators behind the M\&S and Co-op hacks, they refused to confirm or deny any affiliation with Scattered Spider.
As investigations continue, the NCA says it is pursuing multiple lines of enquiry within the broader cybercrime ecosystem. But one thing is clear: the hackers are becoming younger, smarter, and harder to catch.
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