UK police arrest two over London ransomware of children's data

British police said on Tuesday that they had arrested two people on suspicion of computer misuse and blackmail following a cyberattack on a London childcare company in which data on more than 8,000 children was stolen.

The hackers declined to say how much money they were demanding from Kido International, which operates 18 nurseries in Greater London that typically serve babies up to 5-year-olds.

The gang, which identifies itself as Radiant, reported on the attack on its dark web portal last month. It evidenced its claim by publishing the names, photos, home addresses and family contact information of 10 children it said attended one of Kido's centres.

London's Metropolitan Police said the two men, aged 17 and 22, were arrested and taken into custody, where they will remain for questioning. The arrests followed an operation at several residential properties in the town of Bishop's Stortford.

The hack, which raises serious concerns about child safeguarding and data privacy, was the latest in a string of serious ransomware incidents in Britain that have rocked businesses in Britain this year. 

Reuters