UK arrests ‘Scattered Spider’ teens linked to Transport for London hack
What’s new: Two teenagers, Owen Flowers (18) and Thalha Jubair (19), have been arrested in the UK for their alleged involvement in the August 2024 cyberattack on Transport for London (TfL). They are linked to the Scattered Spider hacking collective and face charges related to computer misuse and fraud. The attack disrupted TfL’s internal systems and compromised customer data, including names and contact details. Flowers is also charged with conspiring to attack U.S. healthcare networks, while Jubair faces multiple charges related to cyber fraud affecting numerous organizations worldwide.
Who’s affected
Transport for London, which provides services to over 8.4 million Londoners, experienced significant disruptions due to the cyberattack. Additionally, at least 47 U.S. organizations were affected by the broader cyber activities linked to Jubair, resulting in over $115 million in ransom payments.
What to do
- Review and enhance security measures to protect against similar cyber threats.
- Monitor for unusual activity within your systems, especially if connected to public infrastructure or healthcare sectors.
- Stay informed about ongoing investigations and updates from law enforcement regarding cyber threats.
