Teen Hackers: The Rise and Fall of 'Scattered Spiders'

For nearly two years, a group of young hackers, nicknamed 'Scattered Spiders, ' wreaked havoc on major tech companies worldwide. They targeted over 130 organizations, stealing credentials from almost 10, 000 employees. Their main target was Okta, a single sign-on provider used by many companies. This cybercrime spree included notable attacks like the one against MGM Resorts, which cost the company $100 million.The hackers used common techniques like phishing and SIM swapping. They were so active that the FBI and CISA issued warnings about them. These hackers, mostly teens and young adults, were part of a broader group called '0ktapus. ' They worked with ransomware gangs and even committed real-world crimes. After years of evading capture, authorities finally started catching these hackers. A 17-year-old was arrested in the UK, and five others were indicted in the US. The story of 'Scattered Spiders' shows how young hackers can cause significant damage and how law enforcement is working to stop them.