(qlmbusinessnews.com . Tue 10th Jun, 2025) London, UK —
Marks and Spencer Recovery: Online Shopping Returns After Catastrophic Hack
Marks and Spencer (M&S) has resumed accepting online orders after its operations were severely disrupted by a catastrophic cyber attack in April, forcing the retail giant to halt purchases via its website.
The renowned High Street retailer announced that customers across England, Scotland, and Wales can now order a limited range of fashion products, including clothing and footwear, for home delivery. The company also revealed plans to expand its online offerings to include beauty and homeware items shortly, with services such as delivery to Northern Ireland and the click and collect option expected to resume in the forthcoming weeks.
This development is a significant step forward for M&S, which has faced challenges in restoring its services to full capacity since the cyber attack. The incident caused considerable disruption, leading to empty shelves in stores and halted deliveries.
The cyber attack, occurring over the Easter weekend, initially impacted the retailer's click and collect service and contactless payment systems. M&S was compelled to suspend online orders shortly thereafter and recently indicated that it anticipated service disruptions to persist until July.
John Lyttle, M&S's Managing Director of Fashion, Home, and Beauty, expressed optimism as a selection of the retailer's “best selling” fashion lines became available for online purchase once again.
However, some customers have voiced their dissatisfaction, pointing out the limited selection currently on offer. Andrew Ruddle, an M&S customer, expressed frustration with the scarce menswear options and widespread stock outages. Another customer, Gill Watkins from Milton Keynes, remarked on the lack of communication from M&S regarding the resumption of online services, suggesting that delivery fees should have been waived as a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused.
The cyber attack is expected to have a substantial financial impact on M&S, with projected hits to this year's profits amounting to around £300m—a significant portion of its overall profit, not entirely recoverable through insurance claims.
In the wake of the attack, M&S confirmed that some personal customer data had been compromised, including potential access to telephone numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth. The retailer assured customers that payment details and account passwords had not been compromised.
Further intrigue was added when The reporters learned of a taunting email sent to M&S chief executive Stuart Machin by the hackers, identified as the group DragonForce, which mocked the company's predicament and demanded payment. The group, known for its ransomware activities, typically retains a 20% commission from any ransoms paid.
To date, M&S has not commented on whether a ransom was paid to the hackers, maintaining discretion on the matter amidst ongoing investigations.
This News Story is brought to you by QLM Business News, your Digital Media Channel.
Visit QLM businessnews.com for more business news stories. Also follow us on Facebook, X, and Youtube.
To help QLM Business News bring you more news stories like this, please like, share, and subscribe.
Unlock unparalleled business growth and effortlessly attract a stream of new customers through QLM Business News Sponsored Advertising. Elevate your brand's presence and captivate your target audience with precision. Visit QLMbusinessnews.com and click on “Advertise” to harness the power of strategic advertising. Don't miss this unparalleled opportunity to propel your business to new heights of success!
Disclaimer: All images presented herein are intended solely for illustrative purposes and may not accurately depict the true likeness of the subjects, objects, or individuals referenced in the accompanying news stories.
