Approximately 8,000 names, photos, and addresses of children were allegedly taken from the Kido Nursery chain by a group of cybercriminals.
According to the BBC, these criminals are demanding ransoms from companies operating 18 sites in London, as well as additional locations in the US, India, and China.
The hackers also accessed details about the children’s parents and caregivers, claiming they were securing notes. They reached out to several individuals by phone, employing tactics associated with the Frightor.
Kido has been approached for comment but has yet to confirm the hackers’ assertions. The company has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
A nursery employee informed the BBC that she had been made aware of the data breach.
The Metropolitan Police indicated that they were alerted on Thursday “following reports of ransomware attacks on a London-based organization,” adding that “enquiries are ongoing and remain in the initial phase within Met’s cybercrime division. No arrests have been made to date.”
A spokesperson for the Intelligence Committee office stated that “Kido International has reported the incident to us and we are currently assessing the provided information.”
Many organizations have experienced cyberattacks recently. The Cooperative reported a £80 million decline in profits due to a hacking incident in April.
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Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was unable to assemble vehicles at the start of the month following a cyberattack that compromised their computer systems.
As a result, the company had to shut down most systems used for tracking factory components, vehicles, and tools, impacting their luxury Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender SUV sales.
The company has since reopened a limited number of computer systems.
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