Hackers obtain and expose members' personal data; cooperative extends apologies for breach incident
Breach Unveiled: The Co-op has publicly apologized following a data breach that exposed members' personal information such as names and contact details. The retail giant is currently grappling with persistent cyber attacks, leading to an earlier shutdown of parts of its IT systems this week.
Joining the ranks of affected retailers, Harrods and Marks & Spencer have also faced recent cyber assaults. Marks & Spencer is still reeling from the repercussions of a ransomware attack that left them unable to process online orders since last Friday.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) is probing these attacks individually, keeping an open mind about potential connections.
In a statement, a Co-op representative disclosed: "Following our ongoing forensic investigations, we can confirm that hackers successfully breached one of our systems. Stolen data included personal information of a significant number of our current and past members, specifically their names and contact details. But, rest assured, passwords, bank or credit card details, transactions, or information regarding products or services were not compromised."
The Co-op has enacted measures to safeguard its systems and minimize disruptions for its members, customers, employees, and partners. The firm stressed the importance of member trust, stating that protecting their data is its top priority.
"We're truly sorry for any inconvenience this situation has caused," the spokesperson added.
The business's back office and call center services have been hit, but its over 2,000 grocery stores and 800 funeral parlors across the UK continue to operate as usual.
The National Crime Agency stated that it's collaborating with law enforcement partners to investigate these incidents. The agency is conscious that they may be interconnected and, consequently, will keep this under review.
The National Cyber Security Centre declared these attacks a wake-up call for businesses, urging leaders to follow security advice on the NCSC website to ensure they have appropriate safeguards in place.
CEO Dr Richard Horne brought attention to the incidents, expressing concern over their impact on businesses, customers, and the public. He also emphasized the NCSC's ongoing efforts to provide expert assistance and advice to impacted organizations based on the threat landscape.
By Ruby Cline, PA
Relevant Enrichment:
In recent events, cyber attacks have impacted Co-op, Harrods, and Marks & Spencer. While these incidents appear to be unrelated, the timing and similarities suggest potential coordinated efforts by cyber attackers. It's crucial for businesses to remain vigilant and follow cybersecurity best practices to protect their data and customers.
- The National Crime Agency (NCA) is investigating the data breaches at Co-op, Harrods, and Marks & Spencer individually, keeping an open mind about potential connections between the attacks.
- Marks & Spencer is still recovering from a ransomware attack that left them unable to process online orders since last Friday, joining the ranks of other affected retailers, including Co-op and Harrods.
- In a statement, a Co-op representative revealed that hackers successfully extracted personal information from one of their systems, specifically names and contact details, but passwords, bank or credit card details, transactions, or information regarding products or services were not compromised.
- The National Cyber Security Centre warns these attacks are a wake-up call for businesses and urges leaders to follow security advice on their website to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect data and customers.
