Marks & Spencer has announced a temporary halt on all orders through its website and mobile app due to repercussions from a recent cyber attack.
The retail giant was previously unable to process card payments, causing inconvenience to its customers.
In response to the cyber incident, M&S stated, “In an effort to manage the cyber incident proactively, we have decided to suspend orders on our M&S.com websites and apps. While our products remain viewable online, we apologize for any inconvenience caused. Our physical stores remain open for customers.”
This move to cancel all online and app orders follows the cyber security breach affecting the company.
“We informed our customers on Tuesday that no action was required on their part. That advice stands, and should there be any change, we will update them accordingly,” M&S added. “Our skilled team, with support from top cyber security experts, is diligently working to restore online and app shopping.”
“We are immensely grateful for the patience and support of our customers, colleagues, and partners during this time.”
At the beginning of the week, frustration was voiced by customers who were unable to make card payments in stores due to the IT issue triggered by the cyber attack.
Following the announcement, M&S shares dropped by four percent on Friday, making it the biggest loser in the FTSE 100. This was largely because over a third of the retailer’s clothing and home product sales are conducted online.
The cyber attack, which started on April 21, affected contactless payments and click-and-collect orders, while a separate IT issue on April 19 impacted only contactless payments.
To safeguard against further cyber threats, M&S has implemented additional security measures across its network. The company has also notified data protection regulatory authorities and the National Cyber Security Centre about the incident.
