Marks & Spencer (M&S) temporarily halted online orders in the UK and Ireland following a cyber attack reported earlier in the week, a move that led to a 5% drop in its stock price. The British retailer, known for its clothing, homeware, and food products, took the decision as part of what it described as “proactive management” of the situation. In a statement on social media, M&S apologized for the disruption and assured customers that its stores remained open. The company also noted that some international websites under M&S operations were temporarily pausing online orders as well.
M&S, a staple in British towns, had posted annual revenues of around 13 billion pounds last year, with about one-third of its clothing and homeware sales coming from its online platform. The cyber attack had a noticeable impact on its services, including issues with contactless payments and delays in click and collect orders, as reported by customers. Despite the challenges, the company reassured customers that it was working diligently with cyber experts to restore its online and app shopping services as quickly as possible.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed its awareness of the incident and stated that its officers, in collaboration with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), were supporting M&S in addressing the situation. The attack highlights the increasing vulnerability of retail businesses to cyber threats, especially those with significant online sales channels. M&S has not yet provided further details on the nature of the cyber attack, but the company remains committed to resolving the issue and ensuring the security of its digital platforms in the future.
While the attack disrupted online operations, M&S emphasized that its physical stores continued to operate as usual, ensuring that customers could still shop in person. The company has assured the public that it is taking all necessary steps to address the breach and prevent future incidents.
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