Ethical Hacking News
Four people have been arrested by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) in connection with a series of high-profile cyberattacks targeting Marks & Spencer (M&S), Co-op, and Harrods. The arrests mark a major milestone in the NCA's investigation into the cyberattacks, which had resulted in losses estimated to be between £270M to £440M.
The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested four individuals in connection with high-profile cyberattacks on Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods. The arrests, made on July 10, 2025, mark a major milestone in the NCA's investigation into the cyberattacks, which had significant financial impact and economic reverberations. The suspects, aged 17-20, are facing charges of Computer Misuse Act offenses, blackmail, money laundering, and participation in organized crime. The attacks were attributed to a group called "DragonForce," which claimed responsibility for the breaches on social media. The NCA's Deputy Director emphasized the importance of businesses and individuals taking proactive steps to protect themselves from cybercrime.
In a significant development in the ongoing efforts to combat cybercrime, the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) has arrested four individuals in connection with a series of high-profile attacks targeting Marks & Spencer (M&S), Co-op, and Harrods. The arrests, which took place on July 10, 2025, marked a major milestone in the NCA's investigation into the cyberattacks, which had been deemed "Category 2 systemic events" by the Cyber Monitoring Centre (CMC) due to their substantial financial impact and economic reverberations.
The CMC had estimated that the M&S and Co-op cyberattacks had resulted in losses ranging from £270M to £440M, with the attacks causing widespread disruption and significant financial losses for the affected businesses. The NCA's investigation into the cyberattacks had identified several key suspects, including a Latvian national who was reportedly among those arrested.
According to sources close to the investigation, the four individuals arrested by the NCA were aged between 17 and 20 years old. They were taken into custody at their home addresses and had their electronic devices seized for digital forensic analysis. The suspects are now facing charges of Computer Misuse Act offenses, blackmail, money laundering, and participation in organized crime.
The attacks on M&S and Co-op had been attributed to a group known as "DragonForce," which had claimed responsibility for the breaches on social media. The group's leader, who goes online under the name DragonForce, had revealed that they had accessed the company's internal Teams platform, leaked staff credentials, and stolen 10,000 customer records containing sensitive information.
The investigation into the cyberattacks had been ongoing since April this year, with the NCA working closely with partners in the UK and overseas to identify those responsible. The agency's Deputy Director, Paul Foster, welcomed the arrests, saying that they marked a significant step forward in the investigation but also acknowledged that "our work continues" in pursuit of justice.
Foster emphasized the importance of businesses and individuals taking proactive steps to protect themselves from cybercrime, citing the devastating impact that the M&S and Co-op attacks had on the economy. He thanked M&S, Co-op, and Harrods for their cooperation with the investigation, saying that "this signals to future victims the importance of seeking support and engaging with law enforcement as part of the reporting process."
The arrests are a significant development in the ongoing battle against cybercrime, highlighting the NCA's commitment to pursuing those responsible for such attacks. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that businesses and individuals remain vigilant and take proactive steps to protect themselves from these types of threats.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/UK-NCA-Cracks-Down-on-MS-and-Co-op-Cyberattack-Gangs-Four-Arrested-in-Major-Operation-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/179806/cyber-crime/uk-nca-arrested-four-people-over-ms-co-op-cyberattacks.html
Published: Thu Jul 10 17:24:45 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
