The Co-operative Group, one of the largest retail chains in the U.K., has announced the shutdown of certain IT systems following an attempted cyberattack. A spokesperson for the Co-op, Mark Carrington, stated that the company had faced “recent attempts” by hackers to infiltrate its systems and took “proactive steps” to safeguard against these breaches. As a result, some disruptions have affected back office operations and call centres.
Currently, the extent of the attempted intrusions remains unclear, including whether any were successful. However, the Co-op reassured customers that its stores continue to operate as usual and requested no changes in customer behaviour during this incident.
When approached for further details by TechCrunch, the Co-op refrained from commenting on the specifics of the attack, such as whether it involved ransomware. The company also did not confirm whether it had reported the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the U.K.’s data protection authority, which is a requirement for suspected data breaches. Nevertheless, the Co-op has engaged with the National Cyber Security Centre to address the situation.
Additionally, the spokesperson did not disclose if any communications were attempted with the threat actors, including potential ransomware groups. This incident follows closely on the heels of a cyberattack on Marks & Spencer, another prominent U.K. retailer, which left customers unable to retrieve their orders. Marks & Spencer has since notified the U.K. data regulator of the breach, indicating possible data leakage, and has faced ongoing operational challenges for over a week.
Despite the unfolding situation, the Co-op maintains that its essential store functions remain stable while efforts to protect its IT infrastructure are prioritised.
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