- Two teens charged after TFL -cyber attacks attached to scattered spider criminal collective
- NCA says hack caused millions in loss when TFL operations disturbed for several months
- CPS confirms prosecution as both men are exposed to within October Crown Court performance
Two teenage men have been indicted for a recent cyberattack that left transport to London (TFL) who fought for months of disturbance and tens of thousands of millions in loss.
National Crime Agency (NCA) said that the penetration, which began on August 31, 2024, was linked to scattered Spider, a cyber-criminal group, it describes as a rising threat.
Nineteen -year -old Thalha Jubair from eastern London and eighteen -year -old Owen Flowers from Walsall were arrested at their home addresses by NCA and City of London police officers.
Significant disturbance and millions in loss
Both subsequently appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court, who is accused of having the conspiracy to commit unauthorized actions against TFL in accordance with the Computer Misuse Act.
Flowers were already in bail when the TFL hack took place. After his arrest, officers identified that he had also targeted US health companies, for which he now faces further charges.
Jubair is indicted in accordance with the regulation of investigative powers to refuse to provide the passwords to units seized by him.
Deputy Director Paul Foster, head of NCA’s national cybercrime, said: “Today’s prosecutor is a key step in what has been a long and complex investigation. This attack caused significant disturbance and millions in losses to TFL, part of Britain’s critical national infrastructure.”
Foster continued to add, “Earlier this year, NCA warned of an increase in the threat of Cyber Criminals based in Britain and other English -speaking countries, of which scattered spider is a clear example.
Both men have been in custody and will appear in court in October.
Hannah von Dadelszen, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS said: “The Crown Persecution Service has decided to prosecute Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers with computer abuse and fraud -related charges … Our prosecutors have been working to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in public interest to pursue criminal.”
TFL said in a statement, “We welcome this message from the National Crime Agency that two people have now been indicted in relation to the cyber event that affected our operations last year.”
Hacked forced TFL to write to 5,000 customers warning their bank details and personal information may have been exposed to.
While transport services continued, online platforms and digital information systems were closed for months.
Teenagers are increasingly behind major cyber attacks, including events targeting M&S, co-op and Harrods, while others, some even younger, have been caught up in hacking their own schools.
Via BBC
