A weak employee password led to the downfall of KNP Logistics, a 158-year-old British transport company, after it became the target of a devastating ransomware attack.

Revealed in a recent BBC Panorama documentary, the Northamptonshire-based company — formerly known as Knights of Old — was infiltrated by the notorious Akira ransomware group. The attackers guessed a single password, which gave them access to the company’s internal systems. The breach encrypted all company data, servers, backups, and disaster recovery systems, rendering the business inoperable.

The cybercriminals reportedly demanded a ransom of up to £5 million. Despite immediate intervention by KNP’s insurers and a crisis response team, the company was unable to recover and subsequently entered administration — leading to 700 employees losing their jobs.

Paul Abbott, the company’s director, acknowledged that the breach stemmed from one employee’s password but chose not to inform the individual. “Would you want to know if it was you?” he told Panorama.

Cybersecurity experts say this incident is a stark example of the real-world consequences poor password hygiene can trigger. Anne Cutler of Keeper Security described it as a “pertinent reminder” that even routine cyber hygiene failures can destroy long-standing institutions and livelihoods.

Tim Ward, CEO of Redflags from ThinkCyber, added, “This isn’t a unique tale, it’s a typical one. Organizations need to stop underestimating the human factor in cybersecurity.”

Recent research supports these concerns. Kaspersky’s study of nearly 200 million leaked passwords found that nearly half could be cracked in under a minute. Meanwhile, UK government figures show that 43% of businesses and 30% of charities faced cyberattacks in the past year.

Experts warn that cybercriminals are no longer focused solely on large corporations. Small businesses, schools, nonprofits, and local service providers — like KNP — are increasingly becoming targets.

The documentary’s findings underscore an urgent call for stronger password policies, employee training, and proactive cyber defenses to prevent similar tragedies.

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News Source: ITPro.com