U.K. retailer The Co-operative Group reported an attempted cyberattack and shut down several IT systems in response. The company took proactive steps to contain the threat and safeguard operations from potential compromise. Back office and call center functions experienced limited disruption due to the precautionary shutdown. Storefront services continued operating as normal, with no required actions for customers.
The Co-op, one of the U.K.’s largest food retailers, has over 5 million members and nationwide store locations.
Despite the attempted intrusion, there is no confirmation of any system breach or data theft at this time. The company has not disclosed the nature of the threat or the presence of ransomware activity. It is also unclear if there was any contact with cybercriminals involved in the incident.
Co-op officials have not yet stated whether the Information Commissioner’s Office has been notified about the attempted intrusion. Under U.K. law, notification is mandatory in the event of a suspected data breach. The retailer has confirmed its cooperation with the National Cyber Security Centre on the matter.
More technical details of the attack have not been made public by the company.
The incident follows a cyberattack on fellow U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer that disrupted order pickups for customers. Marks & Spencer’s breach has extended into a second week and involved disclosure to data regulators. The proximity of both incidents raises concern about a possible campaign targeting retail organizations. Investigations into both cases are ongoing, with customer data security being a top priority.
Reference:
