Teenager Admits Massive TalkTalk Hack

Arrest made in connection with TalkTalk hack
People walk past a company logo outside a TalkTalk building, London, October 23. A teenager has admitted hacking the communications firm in 2015. Stefan Wermuth/Reuters

A teenage boy has admitted to seven hacking offences relating to the 2015 data breach of British phone and broadband provider TalkTalk.

The 17-year-old admitted the charges during an appearance at Norwich Youth Court on Tuesday and is set to be sentenced next month.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on November 3 last year following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Cyber Crime Unit.

The attack on TalkTalk, which took place in October 2015, compromised the personal data of nearly 160,000 customers.

The hack led to TalkTalk being fined £400,000 ($497,000) by the Information Commissioner's Office—a record amount handed out by the governmental department.

According to TalkTalk, the cyber attack cost the firm £42 million.

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