M&S hackers vow to keep 'former Soviet Union' safe

Hackers who bragged about crippling Marks & Spencer’s systems and breaching Co-op Group databases appeared to have vowed to protect “the former Soviet Union” from the technology used in the attacks.

- John Simpson Home Affairs Editor

The DragonForce cybercrime group appeared to use a dark web forum to issue a threat to “punish any violations” by fellow hackers planning to use its ransomware in Russia or the former Soviet states - the first indication of any allegiance.

The group, which licenses its ransomware to other hacking gangs for a fee, claimed responsibility for an attack that has left shelves at some branches of M&S bare and has forced the company to suspend online orders.

A separate attack on the Co-op led to a data breach and customer details being stolen, and the group has also been linked to an attempt to hack systems at Harrods.