What if one weak password was all it took to shut down your entire company?
That’s exactly what happened to KNP, a 158-year-old UK transport firm.
One guessed password let ransomware hackers in—and 700 people lost their jobs.
“This is organised crime,” says cyber-specialist Paul Cashmore. “And we’re barely scratching the surface.”
The gang behind the attack, known as Akira, encrypted KNP’s data and demanded a ransom—possibly as much as £5 million.
The Firm couldn’t pay the amount.
What’s The Result?
Total collapse. And KNP’s not alone. In just the past year, M&S, Co-op, and Harrods were all hit.
The Co-op even confirmed data from 6.5 million members was stolen.
Hackers aren’t always tech geniuses either. Many just “blag” their way into systems by tricking helpdesks or exploiting bad days and bad habits.
“They’re just looking for a weak link,” says “Sam” from the National Cyber Security Centre.
Despite the NCSC fighting back, there’s a clear warning: ransomware isn’t just a nuisance—it’s a national security threat.
So, next time you shrug off a security update or reuse a password… maybe think again.
One click, one weak link—and it could all come crashing down.
