M&S has shared an important update about a big cyber attack, revealing that customers' information has been stolen.
The retail chain is still working hard to keep its stores up and running while dealing with the fallout.
In a statement shared on Instagram, M&S announced: "As we continue to manage the current cyber incident, we have written to customers today to let them know that unfortunately, some personal customer information has been taken.
"Importantly, there is no evidence that the information has been shared and it does not include useable card or payment details, or account passwords, so there is no need for customers to take any action.
"To give customers extra peace of mind, they will be prompted to reset their password the next time they visit or log on to their M&S account and we have shared information on how to stay safe online.
"Everyone at M&S is working around the clock to get things back to normal for our customers as quickly as possible, and we are very sorry for any inconvenience they have experienced. Our stores remain open as they have throughout.
"Thank you for shopping with us and for your continued support, we are incredibly grateful."
M&S has been facing widespread disruption following the cyber attack, which has impacted contactless payments, click-and-collect services, and online orders across the UK.
The problems began on Saturday, April 19, with customers unable to collect purchases or return items.
By Monday, April 21, M&S acknowledged the attack, apologised for the inconvenience, and engaged cybersecurity experts while notifying the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
The criminals suspected to be behind the attack are known collectively as "Scattered Spider" - one of the most prolific cybergangs of the past 18 months.
The gang specialises in ransomware - a type of attack designed to steal information or access in exchange for a sum of money.
They have been gaining a reputation for targeting large, customer-facing organisations through social engineering and identity-focused tactics.
"While they are not as well-resourced as some nation-state actors or long-established ransomware syndicates, Scattered Spider is far from "small fry," Jamie Akhtar, CEO and Co-founder at CyberSmart, told The Sun.
"Scattered Spider, also tracked as UNC3944, has become one of the most active and disruptive threat actors in the last 18 months.
"This is a group known not for sheer technical sophistication, but for their ability to manipulate access, often by impersonating employees or exploiting multi-factor authentication systems."
Their most high-profile hack was the attack on Caesars Entertainment and , two of the largest casino and gambling companies in the US.
Despite M&S' efforts to restore systems, disruptions continued throughout the week, forcing the retailer to make operational adjustments, including suspending online and app orders on Friday, April 24.
This decision led to a 5% drop in the company’s share price.
Shoppers have been reporting empty shelves in some stores, highlighting the ongoing fallout from the cyber attack.
Staple items including bananas, fish, and the iconic Colin the Caterpillar cakes have even become hard find in some shops.
Meanwhile, M&S has been forced to temporarily suspend its meal deal offers in some of its smaller stores in transport hubs.
When questioned, staff suggested that the supply disruptions were connected to a cyber attack.
M&S has still yet to confirm the specific nature of the cyber breach.
Co-op also faced a hacking attempt and was forced to shut down part of its IT system at the end of April.
It told staff at the time it had "taken proactive steps to keep our systems safe".
However it was later reported that a "significant number" of the supermarket's 6.2million customers and past members had their data stolen.
This included personal details such as names, contact information and dates of birth.
The retailer said members' passwords, credit card details and transaction information were not leaked.
It said "malicious" hacking attempts were still ongoing and it is dealing with a "highly complex" situation.
After Co-op, Harrods became the third retailer to report a hacking attempt.
Shoppers were warned the company had "restricted internet access" after the attempted breach which left some customers struggling to pay.
All of its sites and website appear to be working as usual now.
A CYBER attack is any deliberate attempt to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorised access to computer systems, networks, or digital devices.
These attacks can target individuals, businesses, or even governments, and their motives can range from financial gain to political disruption.
Cyber attacks can take many forms, employing various techniques to achieve their malicious goals.
Common types of cyber attacks include:
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