Two suspected spider hackers connected to the infiltration of the London transport system have been apprehended by UK authorities.
In a significant development, law enforcement agencies from around the world market have seized cryptocurrency worth approximately $36 million from servers controlled by the ransomware group "Scattered Spider." The group, known for its sophisticated social engineering techniques, has been linked to two arrested individuals, including 19-year-old Thalha Jubair from London.
The operation targeted critical infrastructure, including the London Transport system, demonstrating the group's capability to compromise SCADA systems and operational technology networks. The breach of the London Transport system serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences for ransomware-as-a-service operators and their affiliates.
Jubair, who operated under aliases including "EarthtoStar," "Brad," "Austin," and "@autistic," faces charges in connection with over 120 network intrusions. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum penalty of 95 years in prison. The ransom payments from these intrusions totaled more than $115 million.
The investigation involved multiple international agencies, including the FBI's Cyber Division, the UK's National Crime Agency, the City of London Police, and the West Midlands Police. Since 2020, the Justice Department's Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) has secured convictions of over 180 cybercriminals and facilitated the return of more than $350 million in victim funds.
The group's modus operandi included voice phishing attacks, SIM swapping operations, and spear phishing campaigns. The cybercriminal operation spanned from May 2022 to September 2025. The CCIPS has been instrumental in this operation, working tirelessly to dismantle one of the world's most prolific ransomware operations.
This story is developing, and updates can be found on Google News, LinkedIn, and various other platforms. The search results do not contain information on the aliases or additional names of the members of the Scattered Spider cybercrime collective wanted by international authorities.
As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital infrastructure, the fight against cybercrime becomes more critical. The dismantling of operations like Scattered Spider serves as a reminder of the collective efforts required to protect our digital world.
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