Who is Scattered Spider?

Scattered Spider is a cybercriminal group infamous for breaching major corporations using social engineering tactics. Their targets include MGM Resorts, Okta, and London’s transport system.

What methods did the hackers use?

The group frequently employs social engineering, tricking employees into granting access to corporate networks. This approach is highly effective but challenging to counter.

What damage did the TfL attack cause?

The London transport attack resulted in £29 million in losses and paralyzed critical systems, including ticketing and passenger information services.

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Security

UK Jails Two Hackers Behind Scattered Spider Cyberattacks

July 16, 2026

Photo: TechCrunch

Quick answer

The arrest of two Scattered Spider members in the UK has crippled one of the most dangerous cybercriminal syndicates, known for high-profile attacks on major corporations.

UK law enforcement agencies have dealt a major blow to the cybercriminal group Scattered Spider following the sentencing of two of its members. Owen Flowers and Talha Jubair, aged 18 and 20 at the time of their arrest, were convicted for breaching the infrastructure of Transport for London (TfL), the organization managing the UK capital’s public transport system. The court sentenced them to five and a half years in prison.

The 2024 attack on TfL disrupted ticketing systems and real-time train tracking services. The outage lasted several weeks, with total damages estimated at £29 million. According to investigators, the hackers had such deep access to the systems that they could have completely halted the transport network.

Scattered Spider is known for attacks on major corporations, including MGM Resorts, WestJet, and cybersecurity firm Okta. The group frequently uses social engineering, deceiving employees to gain access to corporate networks. Paul Foster, head of the UK’s National Cyber Crime Unit, stated that Scattered Spider posed one of the country’s top cyber threats in recent years.

The FBI previously accused Jubair of involvement in attacks on over 120 companies. While such groups often have fluid membership, UK authorities believe the arrest of Flowers and Jubair has significantly weakened Scattered Spider, which operates without a clear structure and frequently changes tactics.

Common questions

Who is Scattered Spider?: Scattered Spider is a cybercriminal group infamous for breaching major corporations using social engineering tactics. Their targets include MGM Resorts, Okta, and London’s transport system.
What methods did the hackers use?: The group frequently employs social engineering, tricking employees into granting access to corporate networks. This approach is highly effective but challenging to counter.
What damage did the TfL attack cause?: The London transport attack resulted in £29 million in losses and paralyzed critical systems, including ticketing and passenger information services.

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