Liv McMahon and Tom Gerken are technology reporters who reported that some Co-op stores are facing empty shelves due to a significant cyber attack that has impacted the retailer. Despite remaining open for business, certain stores are unable to accept contactless payments, leading to signs on doors indicating “cash only” transactions. The company confirmed to the BBC that the cyber attack resulted in a substantial amount of customer data being stolen.
A Co-op spokesperson informed the BBC that the delivery of goods to stores has been affected by the continuous malicious attempts by hackers to breach their systems. The spokesperson stated that the company is diligently working to minimize disruptions and resume normal delivery operations. They also acknowledged that some stores may not have their full range of products available, apologizing to members and customers for any inconvenience this may cause.
The cyber criminals responsible for the attack claim to have accessed the private information of 20 million individuals registered in Co-op’s membership program, although the company has not confirmed this figure. In April, Co-op reported a 22% increase in its active membership base, reaching 6.2 million-member owners by 2024. The company reassured customers that only members’ personal information, such as names, contact details, and dates of birth, were compromised, with no bank details, transaction data, or passwords accessed.
Payment issues have affected some Co-op shoppers, with a limited number of stores unable to process card or contactless payments since Monday. The supermarket chain mentioned that the majority of these problems have been resolved, and they anticipate the remaining stores will be fully operational by the end of the day. CEO Shirine Khoury-Haq issued an apology to customers for the breach and emphasized the organization’s commitment to data protection. The incident at Co-op follows similar cyber attacks on Marks and Spencer and attempted hacks on Harrods, highlighting the increased threat to British retailers. The National Cyber Security Centre has warned of criminals posing as IT help desks to initiate cyber attacks on organizations
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