Four Arrested In Connection With M&s And Co-op Cyber Attacks

Four group person been arrested by constabulary investigating nan cyber attacks that person caused havoc astatine M&S and nan Co-op.

The National Crime Agency says a 20 twelvemonth aged female was arrested successful Staffordshire, and 3 males - aged betwixt 17 and 19 - were detained successful London and nan westbound midlands.

They were apprehended connected suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering and participating successful nan activities of an organised crime group.

All 4 were arrested astatine their homes successful nan early hours connected Thursday. Electronic devices were besides seized by nan police.

Paul Foster, caput of nan NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, said nan arrests were a "significant step" successful its investigation.

"But our activity continues, alongside partners successful nan UK and overseas, to guarantee those responsible are identified and brought to justice," he added.

The hacks - which began successful mid April - person caused immense disruption for nan 2 retailers.

Some Co-op shelves were near bare for weeks, while M&S expects its operations to beryllium affected until precocious July, pinch immoderate IT systems not afloat operational until October aliases November.

The president of M&S told MPs this week that it felt for illustration nan hack was an effort to destruct nan business. The retailer has estimated it will costs it £300m successful mislaid profits.

Harrods was besides targeted successful an onslaught that had little effect connected its operations.

M&S was nan first to beryllium breached. A immense magnitude of backstage information belonging to customers and unit was stolen.

The criminals besides deployed malicious package called ransomware scrambling nan company's IT networks making them unusable unless a ransom was paid.

The BBC revealed that nan hackers had sent an violative email to nan M&S leader demanding payment.

A fewer days aft M&S was breached nan Co-op was besides targeted by nan criminals who collapsed successful and stole nan backstage information of millions of its and staff.

The Co-op was forced to admit that nan information breach had happened aft hackers contacted nan BBC pinch impervious that nan patient was downplaying nan cyber attack.

The BBC later discovered from nan criminals that the institution disconnected nan internet from IT networks successful nan nick of clip to extremity nan hackers from deploying ransomware and truthful causing moreover much disruption.

Shortly aft Co-op announced it had been attacked, luxury retailer Harrods said it excessively had been targeted and had been forced to disconnect IT systems from nan net to support nan criminals out.