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UK Retailers Grapple with Fallout from Major Ransomware Attacks

Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods face prolonged disruptions as investigations continue into cyber breaches linked to DragonForce and Scattered Spider.

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Empty shelves in Marks & Spencer as the cyberattack affected the company’s supply chain
There were empty shelves at one shop in Paddington, west London, as the disruption continued to affect supplies

Overview

  • Marks & Spencer remains unable to fully restore online and app orders, with partial in-store operations continuing after a ransomware attack that began over Easter weekend.
  • Co-op has confirmed a significant customer data breach, with hackers accessing names and contact details of millions of members, but not financial information.
  • Harrods experienced attempted unauthorized system access, leading to restricted internet use at its sites to safeguard operations.
  • The National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre are actively investigating the attacks, which have been linked to DragonForce and potentially Scattered Spider.
  • Government officials, including Pat McFadden, have urged businesses to prioritize cybersecurity, warning that recovery for affected companies could take months.