Marks and Spencer, Co-op and Harrods have all fallen victim prompting the National Cyber Security Centre to warn this should be seen as a “wake-up call to all organisations”.
Keeping devices, data and your identity safe from hackers is key and an ongoing issue.
Marks and Spencer was the first to be hit in the recent spate of retail cyber attacks (Photo:Jonathan Brady/PA)
How to stay secure online?
Hacking is a term to describe an attempt to gain unauthorised access to devices, data or online accounts enabling perpetrators to find and exploit personal and financial information.
To prevent this happening to you, the National Cyber Security Centre has seven top tips to ensure your devices, personal details and online are safe.
Use strong, separate passwords for emails. Cyber criminals can use email accounts to access many personal accounts, leaving people vulnerable to identity theft. Using a password you don’t use for any other accounts, either at home or at work, is key. Install the latest software and app updates. Software and app updates include protection from viruses and other kinds of malware, and will often include improvements and new features. Turn on two-step verification (2SV). Turning on 2SV is one of the most effective ways to protect online accounts from cyber criminals. It adds an extra layer of protection to online accounts, with a second verification step such as a code sent to your phone or an authenticator app before logging in. Important accounts, such as email, banking, social media and online shopping, should have two-step verification. Use password managers. These are software applications or tools that can can help generate and store strong passwords securely. This means you can use unique, strong passwords for important accounts rather than using the same password for all of them. Back up data. Safeguard your most important data, such as your photos and key documents, by backing them up to an external hard drive or a cloud-based storage system. Three random words. Use three random words to create a password that is difficult to crack. The longer and more unusual your password is, the harder it is for a cyber criminal to crack.What should you do if hacked?
There are a number of steps you should take to limit the damage and protect your details and accounts and those of your contacts, according to the NCSC.
Contact your account provider. Go to the account provider’s website and search their help or support pages where it should explain the account recovery process. Check you email account. Check email filters and forwarding rules. Cyber criminals sometimes set up a forwarding rule to automatically receive a copy of all emails sent to your account, allowing them to reset your passwords. Change passwords. Immediately change the password for the hacked account and any accounts where you use the same password. Log out of all devices and apps in your account. When you have changed your passwords, log out of the account on any devices and apps using the ‘settings’ menu or ‘privacy’ or ‘account’ options. Set up two-step verification. This means even if a criminal knows your password, they won’t be able to access your accounts. Update devices. Turn on ‘automatic updates’ on your device settings so you don’t have to remember to do it. Tell your contacts. Get in touch with friends or followers linked to the hacked account. Let them know you were hacked so they can protect their accounts. Check bank statements and online store accounts. A hacked email account can lead to hacks elsewhere. Look out for unauthorised purchases and check bank accounts for unusual transactions. Report any to your bank. Report hacking incidents. Report to Action Fraud or Police Scotland, if in Scotland. Harrods became the third big retail name to be hit by a cyber attack (Photo: Mina Kim/ Reuters)Since then, it has experienced issues with online orders, product availability and even recruitment.
He posted on social media yesterday: “We are really sorry that we have not been able to offer you the service you expect from M&S over the last week.
“Out teams are doing the very best they can, and are ready to welcome you into our stores – whether you are shopping for food or for fashion, home and beauty this bank holiday weekend.”
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed officers from its cyber crime unit are investigating the incident.
The Co-op became the second retail firm to experience IT issues after an attempted hack (Photo: Anna Gordon/Reuters)A Co-op spokesperson said on Friday 2 May the firm was “continuing to experience sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access our systems”.
“We have implemented measures to ensure that we prevent unauthorised access to our systems while minimising disruption for our members, customers, colleagues and partners.
“The accessed data included information relating to a significant number of our current and past members.”
“Protecting the security of our members’ and customers’ data is a priority, and we are very sorry that this situation has arisen,” they said.
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Read MoreA store spokesperson said: “We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems.
“Currently, all sites – including our Knightsbridge store, H beauty stores and airport stores – remain open to welcome customers.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has confirmed it is working with the organisations affected.
“The NCSC continues to work closely with organisations that have reported incidents to us to fully understand the nature of these attacks and to provide expert advice to the wider sector based on the threat picture.
“I urge leaders to follow the advice on the NCSC website to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to help prevent attacks and respond and recover effectively”
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