News brief: Hafnium, Scattered Spider hackers arrested

<p>This week, international cybersecurity law enforcement took action against headline-making cybercriminals and state-sponsored threat actors.</p>
<p>Italian authorities detained an individual for allegedly working as a contractor for China’s Ministry of State Security. He is charged with stealing COVID-19 research and exploiting Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities.</p>
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<p>British police arrested four members of the Scattered Spider hacking group who allegedly partnered with the DragonForce <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/ransomware”>ransomware</a> group to conduct cyberattacks against major retailers.</p>
<p>Also this week, while not the direct result of a law enforcement takedown, two ransomware groups announced plans to shutter operations.</p>
<p>Read more about the week’s takedowns and shutdowns.</p>
<section class=”section main-article-chapter” data-menu-title=”U.K. authorities arrest suspects linked to Scattered Spider cyberattacks”>
<h2 class=”section-title”><i class=”icon” data-icon=”1″></i>U.K. authorities arrest suspects linked to Scattered Spider cyberattacks</h2>
<p>The U.K.’s National Crime Agency arrested four individuals — two 19-year-old males, one 17-year-old male and a 20-year-old female — in connection with cyberattacks against <a href=”https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/threat-actors-uk-retail-attacks-targeting-us/748198/”>retailers</a> Marks &amp; Spencer, Co-op and Harrods. Security experts believe the suspects are linked to Scattered Spider, the cybercrime collective previously responsible for <a href=”https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/news/366552775/Okta-Caesars-MGM-hacked-in-social-engineering-campaign”>attacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment</a>.</p>
<p>The suspects were apprehended in West Midlands and London on charges including Computer Misuse Act offenses, blackmail and money laundering.</p>
<p><a href=”https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/4-arrested-uk-marks-spencer-co-op-harrods-hacks”><i>Read th

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