NCA arrests 17-year-old Brit over cyber attack on Transport for London

The National Crime Agency said it arrested a 17-year-old computer hacker in Walsall in connection with the data security incident affecting Transport for London earlier this month.

 

The transportation company said earlier this month that it was “dealing with an ongoing cyber security incident” but assured riders that none of its essential operations were compromised or disrupted.

 

“At present, there is no evidence that any customer data has been compromised and there has been no impact on TfL services. The security of our systems and customer data is very important to us, and we have taken immediate action to prevent any further access to our systems,” TfL said.

 

The transportation service said it worked with relevant law enforcement authorities, including the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre, to respond to the incident.

 

In a press release, the National Crime Agency said that on September 5, it arrested a 17-year-old male in Walsall as part of the investigation into the Tfl cyber attack. He was questioned by NCA officers and has since been released on bail.

 

“The 17-year-old male was detained on suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences in relation to the attack, which was launched on TfL on 1 September,” NCA said. “The NCA is leading the law enforcement response, working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and TfL to manage the incident and minimise any risks.”

 

In a statement shared with the media, Deputy Director Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, said, “We have been working at pace to support Transport for London following a cyber attack on their network, and to identify the criminal actors responsible.

 

“Attacks on public infrastructure such as this can be hugely disruptive and lead to severe consequences for local communities and national systems.

 

“The swift response by TfL following the incident has enabled us to act quickly, and we are grateful for their continued co-operation with our investigation, which remains ongoing,” he added.