The National Crime Agency has arrested nearly 60 suspected hackers in 25 separate operations across the UK as part of a week-long purge of criminals suspected of being involved in data theft, fraud and virus writing.
The NCA has coordinated visits to 70 firms to inform them about how vulnerable their servers were to attack and how they could be used by cyberthieves to send out spam or act as proxies for other attacks.
Co-ordinated by the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) as well as specialist officers from regional organised crime squads and the Metropolitan Police, a total of 56 people have been arrested.
The biggest operation saw the arrest of 25 people in London and Essex suspected of using the net to steal money, launder cash and carry out other frauds.
NCCU deputy director Andy Archibald said: “Criminals need to realise that committing crime online will not render them anonymous to law enforcement. It’s imperative that we continue to work with partners to pursue and disrupt the major crime groups targeting the UK.”
