Harrods Become Third British Retailer To Be Hit By Cyber Attack
Harrods has confirmed it was recently targeted in a cyber attack, making them the third major UK retailer to be hit by a cyberattack in the last two weeks. The department store said its IT team “immediately took proactive steps” and restricted internet access at its sites to protect their systems. While the full scale of the breach is unclear, Harrods’ Knightsbridge store, airport branches, and online operations remain open, and customers are being told that there's no need to change their shopping behavior.
The attack follows a particularly disruptive breach at M&S, which has been unable to process online clothing and home orders for a week, with some stores also facing food shortages. Cybersecurity experts believe the M&S incident was a ransomware attack, possibly carried out by the group "DragonForce." Meanwhile, the Co-op has also confirmed that hackers had attempted access to its systems, prompting the company to implement tighter controls, including requiring staff to keep cameras on during remote meetings to guard against intruders.
Experts from the National Cyber Security Centre are now working with all three companies, while police investigations continue. Richard Horne of the NCSC called the series of attacks a “wake-up call,” and cybersecurity leaders say it’s another sign that high street retailers are increasingly attractive targets for sophisticated hackers. While it’s not yet known whether the attacks are linked, concerns have been raised about possible vulnerabilities in shared systems or third-party suppliers.
