Cyber attack hits luxury department store Harrods after similar incidents at M&S and Co-op

Published: 2025-05-03 09:01:06 ET TGT

Published on 05/03/2025 at 09:01

Key takeaways

Immediate response

Harrods, the luxury department store, was recently the target of a cyber attack. The retailer acted quickly and shut down some systems as a precaution. Despite this interruption, Harrods assures customers that the website and all physical stores remain operational.

The company stresses that no data breach has been detected and is not asking its customers to take action. Harrods will continue to provide updates on the situation as needed.

Similar cyberattacks

This incident follows similar cyber attacks at Marks & Spencer (M&S) and supermarket chain Co-op earlier this week. The attack on M&S had a significant impact, forcing the company to halt online orders for nearly a week. Operational disruptions included gaps on store shelves due to malfunctioning automatic inventory systems, as well as problems with its loyalty program and gift card payments.

In addition, M&S has temporarily suspended hiring new employees as its recruiting systems are offline while technical experts work to resolve the effects of the hack. The company assures that job postings will resume once the situation is resolved.

Increased alert for attacks

Co-op also suffered a cyber incident, shutting down some internal systems. The company advised staff to exercise caution during online meetings by keeping their cameras on. Despite these interruptions, both the Co-op's stores and online operations continue to function normally.

These attacks have put retailers on high alert, especially those using similar systems such as SAP software, which was targeted in the M&S incidents.

Prioritizing cybersecurity

While it remains unclear whether the attacks were coordinated or perpetrated by the same group, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is working with both M&S and Co-op to understand the nature of these incidents and possible links. The Metropolitan Police, assisted by the National Crime Agency, is actively investigating the attack on M&S.

The NCSC director has urged organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures for prevention, response and recovery in light of these events.

Incidents in recent years

In recent years, there have been many cyber attacks targeting retailers and their suppliers. Notable examples include Morrisons, which was affected by an incident at its technology provider Blue Yonder, and WH Smith, which suffered separate attacks that led to data breaches and temporary suspension of online orders.

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