Co-op Takes Systems Offline After Foiling Cyberattack, M&S Still Reeling from Major Hack
The Co-op has temporarily shut down parts of its IT infrastructure in response to an attempted cyberattack, taking what it described as “proactive measures” to block hackers from accessing its systems. The move caused minor disruptions to its call center and back-office operations.
Despite the attempted breach, Co-op confirmed that all of its more than 2,500 UK supermarkets and 800 funeral homes remain fully operational, along with its wholesale supply to Nisa stores. “We are working to minimize service disruption and appreciate the patience of our members, partners, and suppliers,” a spokesperson said, adding that no action is currently required from customers or members.
This incident comes as Marks & Spencer (M&S) continues to grapple with a major cyberattack that has disrupted its operations for a second week, reportedly costing the retailer millions in lost sales. Online ordering remains down, and store shelves have been left unstocked. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that detectives from its cyber crime unit are investigating the attack on M&S.
Experts believe M&S was targeted with ransomware known as DragonForce, a type of malware that locks users out of systems and demands payment to restore access. Though it’s unclear whether the Co-op’s attempted breach is linked, some speculate heightened security awareness following the M&S attack may have led to its early detection.
Cybersecurity expert Daniel Card from BCS noted that taking systems offline is a rare and significant response, typically used to prevent the spread of sophisticated threats like zero-day exploits — vulnerabilities that are unknown to the system owner and therefore unpatched.
The retail sector has seen a string of cybersecurity incidents in recent months. Morrisons faced a similar attack in December 2024, and earlier in 2025, Barclays and Lloyds banks were affected by major service outages.
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