Two Arrested Over Cyberattack Stealing Data of 8,000 Children from London Nurseries

Two suspects, aged 17 and 22, have been arrested in Bishop's Stortford, UK, in connection with a ransomware cyber-attack on the Kido nursery chain, which operates 18 sites in London and nearby areas. The hackers, known as Radiant, stole sensitive data including names, addresses, and pictures of about 8,000 children, and initially posted some profiles on the dark web, demanding a ransom in bitcoin estimated at around £100,000. Following public backlash, the hackers deleted all stolen data and apologized for targeting children. Authorities emphasized that the risk of physical harm to children is very low and advised against paying ransoms to avoid encouraging cybercrime. The Met Police are continuing their investigation, highlighting the seriousness with which they are treating the incident, while Kido and Famly, the software provider involved, have both assured no broader security breaches occurred. Experts stress the ongoing prevalence of cyberattacks on educational institutions and the need for improved cybersecurity measures rather than scare tactics.