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TWO YOUNG HACKERS JAILED AFTER £29 MILLION TfL CYBERATTACK
Two young British hackers have been jailed for five-and-a-half years each after carrying out a major cyberattack against Transport for London (TfL), an attack that left the transport organisation facing around £29 million in losses and recovery costs.
Thalha Jubair, 20, from east London, and Owen Flowers, 18, from Walsall, West Midlands, admitted their involvement in the attack, which targeted TfL’s computer network between 31 August and 3 September 2024. Both were subsequently sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court.
How the attack unfolded
The attackers gained access to TfL’s internal systems and were able to reach highly privileged areas of the network. Investigators said the pair were associated with the online criminal collective known as Scattered Spider.
The incident forced TfL to take emergency measures to protect its wider network. More than 27,000 employees were required to attend TfL offices to reset their passwords, while 148 systems became inoperable, according to the National Crime Agency.
The disruption extended beyond TfL’s internal workforce. Services including parts of the Oyster and contactless payment systems, customer refunds, concessionary travel cards and the Dial-a-Ride booking service were affected. Some customers experienced delays in receiving refunds.
Customer information accessed
The investigation found that information held within TfL systems was accessed, including data connected with Oyster refunds. TfL had initially reported that customer information had been accessed during the incident, while the authorities investigated the full extent of the breach.
The attack demonstrated how a cyber incident against a major public organisation can quickly spread beyond computers and into everyday services used by millions of people.
£29 million bill
TfL was reported to have suffered approximately £29 million in losses and recovery costs as a result of the attack. The wider disruption also created significant operational pressure as the organisation worked to restore systems and strengthen its security.
Authorities warned that the consequences could have been far greater. Prosecutors said the hackers had reached a level of access that created a serious risk to TfL and the wider UK economy.
Five-and-a-half-year sentences
In July 2026, Jubair and Flowers were each sentenced to five years and six months in prison. The Crown Prosecution Service said the pair had shown a serious disregard for the potential consequences of their actions.
The case is a major warning about the vulnerability of large public organisations to cybercrime. TfL handles enormous amounts of operational and customer information every day, making the protection of its digital infrastructure critical to London’s transport network.
THE BIG WARNING
The TfL attack shows that cybercrime is no longer simply about stealing information. A successful intrusion into a major public service can disrupt payments, customer services, employees and essential infrastructure — potentially creating consequences far beyond the original computer breach.
For TfL, the 2024 attack ultimately produced a £29 million bill, months of disruption and a major criminal investigation that ended with two young hackers behind bars.
Attached is a news article regarding two hackers who hack the TFL and cost them 29 million
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gyg0y6yg2o
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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