Hackers have stolen personal information of thousands of nursery children, including names, addresses, and photos, and have posted this sensitive data on the darknet. Approximately 8,000 children’s details were compromised by cyber criminals who are now demanding a ransom from the Kido nursery chain, which operates in London, the US, and India. The hackers claim to possess information about the children’s parents and caregivers, including safeguarding notes, and have reached out to some parents for extortion purposes.
A portion of the leaked data comprises photos and profiles of 10 children, strategically released by the hackers to pressure the nursery chain for money. Law enforcement authorities are advising against paying ransoms as it could incentivize further cyber crimes.
When questioned about their actions and the ethical implications of extorting a nursery using children’s data, the hackers defended themselves by stating that their demands were not excessive and that they believed they deserved compensation for their penetration testing efforts, conducted without authorization from the nursery chain.
In response to the breach, a parent identified as Mary shared that the nursery promptly notified them of the incident, and they received an email from the hackers detailing the stolen information. Mary acknowledged the professionalism of the communication and expressed understanding of such security incidents, noting the nursery’s handling of the situation.
Kido has been contacted for comment by the Mirror, while the Metropolitan Police confirmed receiving reports of a ransomware attack on a London-based organization. Investigations are ongoing, led by the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit, with no arrests made so far.
This incident follows a series of cyber attacks on UK supermarkets, including ransomware incidents affecting Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and others, causing service disruptions and data compromises. Harrods successfully fended off a hacking attempt, while a food distributor cyberattack led to stock issues for Aldi, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s.