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How Did Teenage Cybercriminals Cripple Britain's Biggest Stores?
Four young people now sit in police cells. Their ages? Between 17 and 20. One is a woman. The others are men. British police caught them on July 10, 2025. They believe these four attacked some of Britain's most famous stores.
The stores hit were big names. Co-op sells food. Marks & Spencer sells clothes and food. Harrods is where rich people shop. All three stopped working for weeks. Why? Hackers broke in and locked up their computers.
What Happened in April 2025
Spring brought trouble. In April, cyber criminals picked their targets. They chose three retail giants that millions of Britons know well.
The attack was simple but deadly. Here's how it worked:
- Hackers called the help desk
- They asked for password resets
- This gave them keys to the computer systems
- They spread through the networks like a virus
- They stole data first
- Then they locked everything with ransomware
- Finally, they demanded money
The companies found out in May. By then, damage was done. Business stopped. Customers couldn't shop. Workers couldn't work. Money was lost every day.
Expert Says Attacks Were Planned
Nic Adams knows about cyber crime. He runs a company called 0rcus. He studied these attacks closely. His conclusion? The hackers worked like a well-oiled machine.
Two groups likely worked together. Their names are DragonForce and Scattered Spider. They used the same methods on all three stores. This wasn't random. It was planned.
Think of it like a bank robbery. But instead of masks and guns, they used computers and passwords. The result was the same - they took what wasn't theirs.
Police Make Their Move
The National Crime Agency acted fast. They are Britain's top crime fighters. On July 10, they struck back.
The arrests happened in two cities:
- West Midlands
- London
The charges are serious:
- Computer Misuse Act crimes
- Racketeering
- Money laundering
- Being part of an organized crime group
Police also took their computers and phones. These devices hold clues. Digital experts will study every file and message.
A Growing Problem
Britain faces a troubling trend. Young people are becoming cyber criminals. This isn't the first time. Remember the Lapsus$ group? They were teenagers too. They attacked big companies around the world. Now we see it again with these four suspects.
Why do young people turn to cyber crime? Several reasons stand out:
- Easy to learn: Hacking tools are online
- Hard to catch: They work from home
- Big rewards: Companies pay millions in ransom
- Feels like a game: No face-to-face victims
What This Means for Shoppers
Regular people pay the price. When stores get hacked, everyone suffers. Prices might go up. Personal data might be stolen. Shopping becomes harder.
The good news? Police are fighting back. These arrests show they're getting better at catching cyber criminals. But the bad news is clear too. More young hackers are out there.
The Road Ahead
These four suspects remain in custody. Police are asking them hard questions. The investigation continues. More arrests might come.
For now, Britain's stores are working again. But the threat remains real. Cyber criminals don't sleep. They're always looking for the next target.
The message is clear: cyber crime has real consequences. These young people learned that lesson the hard way. Their freedom is gone. Their futures are uncertain. All for attacking stores that serve millions of innocent people.
This case reminds us that behind every cyber attack are real people making bad choices. The internet might feel anonymous, but justice eventually finds everyone.