Hackers delete children's pictures and data after nursery attack backlash

Hackers who attempted to extort a nursery chain by posting stolen images and data about children on the darknet have removed the posts and claim to have deleted the information.

The criminals began posting profiles of the children to their website last Thursday, adding another 10 children days later and vowing to continue until Kido Schools paid a ransom in Bitcoin.

The criminals also contacted parents directly with threatening phone calls whilst trying to get their ransom paid.

But public revulsion at their attack appears to have forced the criminals to backtrack.

First they blurred the images but kept the data up - now they have taken all the information offline, and apologised for their actions.

Their apparent change of heart has been met with scepticism by experts, who had previously condemned the targeting of nurseries as a "new low" for cyber-criminals.

"This is more about pragmatism than morality," said cyber-security expert Jen Ellis.

"These criminals are clearly shocked and worried by the attention their hack has caused and they are trying to protect themselves or their brand."

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