This shocking incident happened to KNP Group, one of the largest transport companies in Northamptonshire, UK. Established in 1865 and employing over 700 people, the company was forced to shut down in 2023 after falling victim to a cyberattack by the "Akira" ransomware gang, which infiltrated its internal systems and rendered the business inoperable.
What’s most alarming is that the attackers gained access through a single weak password used by an employee. Once inside, they encrypted the company’s data and locked down the entire system, leaving behind a chilling ransom note that read:
“If you're reading this message, part or all of your infrastructure has already been compromised…”
Although KNP had cyber insurance, it was unable to meet the ransom demands — estimated at £5 million (around 217 million THB). Ultimately, all data was lost, and the business had to shut down permanently.
The Beginning of a Collapse
KNP wasn’t the only company hit by cybercrime during that period. In the same year, well-known names like Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods also fell victim to similar attacks.
- Co-op confirmed that personal data of over 6.5 million members was stolen.
- Marks & Spencer experienced delivery disruptions due to social engineering attacks, such as phone scams targeting IT staff to gain access.
According to UK government reports, over 19,000 ransomware attacks are reported annually in the country, with an average ransom demand of £4 million, and around one-third of businesses choose to pay.
New-Age Hackers Don’t Need Advanced Skills
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) revealed that many modern hackers don’t rely on sophisticated methods. Instead, they exploit moments of negligence — like using easy-to-guess passwords.
Worse still, ransomware tools can now be purchased on the Dark Web, enabling even novice attackers to launch devastating campaigns with just basic knowledge and malicious intent.
Government Response Still Falling Short
Despite efforts from the NCSC and the National Crime Agency (NCA) to investigate and stop cyberattacks, the situation is still far from under control.
Susan Grimmer, a lead at the NCA, reported that UK cyberattacks nearly doubled in the past two years. There are now 35–40 incidents per week, and attackers still have many ways to escape capture.
Beyond Awareness: Readiness Is Crucial
Paul Abbott, former director of KNP and now a cybersecurity speaker, warned that one cyberattack could destroy a business. He introduced Cyber MOT (Cyber Maturity of Technology), which means checking cybersecurity readiness regularly. This helps find weaknesses and improve before problems happen.
Experts from KNP’s insurance provider said one major issue, besides the attacks, is failing to report incidents. Many organizations quietly pay ransoms instead of helping to stop threats at the source.Many organizations choose to quietly pay ransoms instead of helping to stop these threats at the source.
Small Flaws Can Destroy Big Businesses
KNP’s downfall is a sobering reminder that cyber threats are not distant risks. Often, they don't stem from complex software flaws — but from small vulnerabilities like a weak password.
What Every Organization Should Do Immediately:
- Enforce strong password policies
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Regularly update and back up data
- Conduct Cyber Maturity assessments at least once a year
- Train employees on cyber risks and incident response
In today’s digital age, success isn’t just about growing fast — it’s about growing securely.
Source: BBC Thai – A single weak password left 700 employees jobless