Inside the Mind of Hackers: A BBC Reporter’s Insight

Every day, my phone reverberates with communications from a myriad of hackers, each one distinct in motive and disposition. Having devoted over a decade to the field of cyber security journalism, I have encountered countless individuals keen to divulge their exploits—some laudable, others dubious, and many shrouded in ambiguity.

While a substantial portion of these dialogues remains confined to my archives, an intriguing missive recently surged to the forefront of my attention. The hackers, via Telegram, initiated contact with a tantalizing overture: “Greetings. This is Joe Tidy from the BBC, reporting on the Co-op incident, am I correct? We possess pertinent information.”

With cautious enthusiasm, I inquired further, only to discover that these interlocutors, despite their anonymity, exhibited an alarming command of English. Their revelations, articulated over the span of several hours, suggested an intimate association—if not outright involvement—in the cyber incursions at M&S and the Co-op, which had precipitated widespread operational disruption.

Proffered was evidence indicating their appropriation of extensive consumer and employee data. Upon scrutinizing a sample, I opted for its secure deletion, aware of the gravity that accompanied such knowledge.

These hackers expressed exasperation regarding the Co-op’s reluctance to capitulate to their ransom demands, though they refrained from disclosing the specific sum desired in Bitcoin. Following deliberations with the BBC’s Editorial Policy team, we deemed it imperative to unveil the hackers’ claims, aligning with the public interest amidst an escalating wave of cyber crime.