Scottish Man Extradited to U.S. Over Scattered Spider Group Cyberattacks
A 23-year-old Scottish man, Tyler Robert Buchanan, has been extradited from Spain to the U.S. to face charges of wire fraud, conspiracy, and identity theft. Buchanan is alleged to be part of the notorious Scattered Spider group, known for its data extortion schemes.
The group, also known as ShinyHunters, has been linked to a series of high-profile cyberattacks. In October 2025, they launched a website threatening to publish stolen data from dozens of Fortune 500 firms if ransoms were not paid. The group claimed responsibility for breaches involving Discord user data and Red Hat customer data. Buchanan's alleged involvement in these attacks has led to his extradition.
The group operates on the Com, a predominantly English-language cybercriminal community, with members from various chat channels on Telegram and Discord servers. Buchanan is not the first member to face charges. A 19-year-old U.K. resident, Thalha Jubair, was previously charged for his alleged involvement in data ransom attacks. A 20-year-old Florida man, Noah Michael Urban, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay $13 million in restitution for his role in the group. U.K. prosecutors have also charged two alleged members, aged 18 and 19, with extorting at least $115 million in ransom payments.
The Scattered Spider group, operating under various aliases including ShinyHunters, continues to pose a significant threat to businesses worldwide. Buchanan's extradition and the previous charges against other members highlight the international effort to combat these cybercriminal activities. As the group's tactics evolve, so too must the global response to protect against data extortion and cyberattacks.
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