Co-op Cyberattack: UK Retail Giant Warns of Disruption

Co-operative Group Responds to Cyberattack Attempts

The Co-operative Group, a major retail conglomerate based in the U.K., has reported the temporary shutdown of certain IT systems following detected cyberattack attempts.

According to Co-op spokesperson Mark Carrington, the organization recently identified malicious efforts to compromise its systems. Immediate and preventative measures were implemented to secure these systems.

Impact on Operations

These actions have resulted in some disruption to the company’s back office operations and call center functionalities. The extent of the impact is currently being assessed.

At this stage, it remains unconfirmed whether the intrusion attempts were successful in breaching the company’s defenses.

Customer Assurance

Despite the ongoing situation, The Co-op, which serves over 5 million members and stands as a leading food retailer in the U.K., has confirmed that its stores are continuing to operate without interruption.

Customers are not currently required to alter their shopping habits or take any specific actions.

Incident Details Remain Limited

When questioned by TechCrunch, The Co-op declined to provide specifics regarding the nature of the incident. This includes whether it involved ransomware or other malicious software.

The company also did not disclose whether it has informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the U.K.’s data protection regulator, as is protocol in suspected data breach scenarios.

However, The Co-op has affirmed its collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate and mitigate the threat.

Furthermore, the spokesperson stated that there has been no communication established with the individuals or groups responsible for the attack.

Recent Trend of Retail Cyberattacks

This incident at The Co-op follows closely on the heels of a similar event at U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer. Marks & Spencer recently acknowledged a cyberattack that prevented customers from collecting pre-ordered items.

Marks & Spencer has already notified the U.K. data regulator, suggesting a potential compromise of customer data. Disruptions at Marks & Spencer are now entering their second week.

These events highlight a growing trend of cyberattacks targeting retail organizations in the U.K.