Technology reporters
AlamiaMarks & Spencer (M&S) says that it has stopped taking orders online while the company struggles to recover from a cyber attack.
Customers began informing problems last weekend, and on Tuesday the retailer confirmed that he faced a “cyber incident.”
Now, M&S has completely arrested orders on its website and applications, even for food and clothing deliveries, and says it will reimburse the orders made by customers on Friday.
The company’s shares fell 5% after the announcement, before recovering.
“We really regret this inconvenience,” the retailer wrote in an X publication.
“Our experienced team, with the support of the main cyber experts, is working extremely hard to restart online and applications purchases.
“We are incredible grateful to our clients, colleagues and partners for their understanding and support.”
He said his stores remain open despite the problems that affect the online order.
Continuous problems
Previously, the company was dealing with problems that affected people who used contactless payments, click and collect, as well as those who pay with gift cards.
Since suspending the online order, M&S has responded to social media publications advice to customers who persist thesis problems.
“Gift cards, electronic cards and credit receipts cannot currently be used as a payment or online payment method,” he said in response to a person in X.
But another plays that if people have already resorted to an email counting issue, an element is ready to be collected, they should be able to go to the store and pick it up.
“We are holding all the plots in the store to an additional warning, so there is no risk of being sent back,” he said.
But some people have criticized the firm for their interruption management, particularly around their messages for the client.
“After they told him last night, the problem with the gift cards was ordered, it was in the store today and was sent again,” a person told the firm in an X post.
They said it was the fourth consecutive day they had tried and could not use their M&S gift card.
Meanwhile, despite the frustrations, some people online praised the store staff for their service in the midst of the problems, and asked customers not to eliminate their frustrations to workers.
But many still seem to have questions about how existing purchases, orders and returns will be affected by the continuous consequences of the cyber attack.
The in -line supermarket, which sells M&S food on its platform, is not affected by the problems, since it is executed in a completely separate system.
EmOnline interruption
A spokesman for the Information Commissioner’s office told the BBC that M&S was “evaluating the proven information” after the retailer told the incident.
The firm previously said on Tuesday that the incident had reported to the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC), and the National Crime Agency told the BBC that it was working on the NCSC to support the company.
In an update of investors on Friday, M&S said that his decision to falsify online orders in the United Kingdom was part of his “proactive management” or the incident.
“The M&S team, with the support of the main experts, is working extremely hard to restore online operations and continue to serve customers well,” he said.
However, in the midst of the continuous consequences of this week’s cyber attack, experts are speculating around what may be behind him.
Nathaniel Jones, Vice President of Security and IA strategy in the Darktrace cyber security firm, said that M&S stops online sales “the cascade impact that these attacks can have on income flows.”
“Show how fast cyber incidents can paralyze retail operations in digital and physical channels,” he added.
William Wright, from the cybersecurity firm closed for security, said he thinks he could have a “material impact” on the company.
“The data show that almost a quarter of the store sales occur online, so it does not matter how long this pause is in place, it will harm M&S Financial,” he said.
The retailer is the last important brand that experiences a significant interruption of its online services in recent months.
Morrisons faced big problems with their Christmas orders last year, with canceled deliveries and unpaid discounts.
This was followed by two main bank courts in what was the day of payment for many in the first two months of this year.
In January, serious problems in Barclays affected the application of the bank and online banking. It was later revealed that Barclays could face compensation payments of £ 12.5m.
In February, several banks, especially Lloyds, faced interruptions, leaving companies unable to pay staff.
Additional Liv McMahon reports
