Co-op faced the most severe impact, with hackers breaching their systems, leading to empty shelves and delivery delays in stores across the country. The hacking group “DragonForce” claimed responsibility and alleged they accessed personal data of millions of Co-op members, though the company says no financial details were stolen.
M&S suspended online orders and experienced in-store payment issues, while Harrods took precautionary measures after detecting an attempted breach. All three retailers are working with cybersecurity experts and authorities to restore operations and protect customer data.
These incidents highlight the escalating threat facing large retailers, with experts warning that supply chains and customer trust are at risk as attacks become more frequent and sophisticated8. The NCSC has urged all UK businesses to review their IT help desk procedures and staff verification processes to defend against similar breaches6.
The Human Impact
For shoppers, the fallout is visible in empty shelves and disrupted services. For staff, it means heightened vigilance and new protocols to ensure security. For the companies, it’s a race to restore operations and reassure millions of customers that their data and daily shopping routines are safe.
As investigations continue and retailers work to recover, these attacks serve as a stark reminder of the evolving cyber threats facing even the most established brands-and the importance of robust digital defenses in today’s retail landscape
