Cooperative provides progress reports on recuperation following a cyber attack that resulted in barren store shelves
Facing Post-Cyberattack Recovery, Co-op Struggles with Food Shortages
After a cyber assault on their systems, the Co-op is battling to restore stock levels, with food shortages persisting in their stores, Nisa, and Costcutter outlets since the incident on 30 April. Customers have noticed a rise in empty shelves, as the mutual stopped taking many orders and prioritized rural deliveries.
The Co-op announced the restoration of its stock ordering systems, starting a "recovery phase" to return to normal operations. The hack is believed to be linked to the one that hit Marks & Spencer and Harrods at the end of April. Both companies confirmed that personal customer data, including names and contact details, were stolen but emphasized that payment data was secure.
Experts predict that the Co-op and M&S will face financial losses in the millions due to lost sales, cleanup costs, and investments in enhanced IT security. M&S has been unable to conduct online business since 25 April.
Who is behind this malicious attack?
The perpetrators are the Scattered Spider group, a skilled ensemble of English-speaking hackers primarily operating from the UK and the US. The group is known for their social engineering tactics, exploiting human vulnerabilities rather than system flaws[2][5]. Scattered Spider is a decentralized and adaptive outfit, capable of quickly regrouping following arrests[2][3]. Members reportedly include young individuals, some as young as 16, who connect through online hacker forums[2].
Having emerged in 2022, the Scattered Spider group swiftly gained fame for emulating high-profile attacks. In early 2023, they were known for perpetrating phishing and credential theft across various sectors[5]. The group has been implicated in the attacks on MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, M&S, and numerous other targets, employing a variety of malicious software such as DragonForce, Raccoon Stealer, VIDAR, and BlackCat ransomware[4].
To stay informed about the latest development in the Co-op's recovery and the activities of the Scattered Spider group, download our website app and follow our News section for real-time updates.
References:[1] [Source][2] [Source][3] [Source][4] [Source][5] [Source]
As the Co-op enters a recovery phase following a cyberattack, the mutual is also grappling with food shortages, resulting in empty shelves in their stores, Nisa, and Costcutter outlets. The intrusion is speculated to be linked to similar attacks perpetrated on Marks & Spencer and Harrods. Experts predict that both companies, along with others targeted by the Scattered Spider group, will face significant financial losses in the millions due to the ensuing post-attack challenges. This skilled hacking collective, primarily operating from the UK and the US, is known for exploiting human vulnerabilities, employing tactics such as phishing and credential theft across various industries, including finance and technology.
