Federal investigators have intensified efforts to disrupt adolescent-led hacking networks—groups like Scattered Spider and others—that researchers say have targeted companies with a combined market cap near $1 trillion since 2022. Law‑enforcement briefings and reporting by cyber intelligence firms reveal recruitment tactics that exploit teenagers’ skills and anonymity. The operations include social‑engineering, phishing, and extortion; recent indictments and convictions have highlighted how quickly teen participants can be prosecuted. For colleges and research institutions, the activity raises dual concerns: campus cybersecurity is at risk from sophisticated intrusion techniques, and universities are potential recruitment grounds for technically skilled youths. IT leaders should prioritize threat hunting, student‑facing cyber‑ethics education, and rapid incident response partnerships with federal authorities. The prosecutions also create legal and reputational questions for institutions whose students may be implicated in cross‑border cybercrime.