C-store specialist Co-op launches ‘proactive measures’ to fend off cyber attack

The Co-op operates over 2,500 convenience stores across the UK as well as 800 funeral homes and also provides food to Nisa shops through its wholesale arm.

A spokeswoman for the brand said both shops and funeral homes were operating as usual following the attempted hacking attack, but did say that there had been a “small impact” on the brand’s call centre and back-office operations.

“We have recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems,” they said. “As a result, we have taken proactive steps to keep our systems safe, which has resulted in a small impact to some of our back office and call centre services. All our stores (including quick commerce operations) and funeral homes are trading as usual.

“We are working hard to reduce any disruption to our services and would like to thank our colleagues, members, partners and suppliers for their understanding during this period.

“We are not asking our members or customers to do anything differently at this point. We will continue to provide updates as necessary.”

The news comes as Marks & Spencer continues to reel from the effects of a cyber attack last week, that cause the brand to shut down its ecommerce website and many click and collect services and is costing it millions of pounds in lost sales.

The Metropolitan Police has today confirmed it’s looking into the attack on M&S, which has been linked to hacking group Scattered Spider.

“Detectives from the Met’s cyber crime unit are investigating,” it said in a statement.

It is currently unknown whether the group behind the M&S attack are responsible for the attempted hack of the Co-op.

M&S has not said what hit its online ordering systems and has led to empty shelves in stores, but the BBC has reported that ransomware called DragonForce was used.