Hackers say they have deleted children’s pictures and data after nursery attack backlash
A shocking cyberattack on UK-based Kido Schools has taken a surprising turn after hackers who stole and leaked sensitive data about thousands of children have now taken the information offline and claimed to have deleted it.
The criminal group, calling themselves Radiant, initially posted stolen images and private details of children on the darknet, demanding a ransom of around £600,000 in Bitcoin. They even contacted parents directly with threats, escalating fears for families. But as public outrage grew, the hackers blurred the images, then removed all data completely — even issuing an apology, saying: “We are sorry for hurting kids.”
Despite this apparent backtrack, cybersecurity experts remain sceptical. Jen Ellis, a leading security analyst, described the move as “more about pragmatism than morality,” warning that cybercriminals rarely delete stolen data even when they claim to. Past investigations have revealed gangs keeping or selling information despite ransom payments.
Around 8,000 children’s profiles and parents’ contact details were compromised, with most of the material reportedly taken from Kido’s account on the Famly early years education platform. Famly has clarified that its systems were not breached, placing the blame on hackers buying access through an “initial access broker” who had compromised a staff member’s computer.
Kido Schools has not paid the ransom and says it is working with authorities and external experts to investigate. Ironically, this means the hackers — who appear relatively inexperienced — may have lost money after paying for access to the school’s systems.
This isn’t the first time cyber criminals have tried to walk back an attack. In previous cases, hackers targeting hospitals and health services released decryption keys or offered apologies after facing moral backlash. Radiant’s retreat suggests that public condemnation remains a powerful weapon against even the darkest corners of cybercrime.
