JAKARTA The UK government will issue warnings to all companies in the country to make cybersecurity an “absolute priority”. This is done, following a series of cyberattacks against several well-known retailers such as Marks & Spencer (M&S), Co-op Group, and Harrods.
British Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, on Friday 2 April chaired a briefing with national security officials and CEO of the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC) Richard Horne, discussing the support provided to affected retailers.
In a speech planned to be delivered at next week’s CyberUK conference in Manchester, McFadden will call the incident a “call to wake up” for the rest of the business world.
“In a world where cybercriminals are targeting us never stop to pursue profit with efforts made every hour of every day then companies must make cybersecurity an absolute priority,” McFadden said, as quoted in his office statement.
He will also highlight the government’s latest steps in strengthening national defenses in cyberspace, including plans to ratify a new legislation called Cyber Security Bill.
One of the cyberattacks in the spotlight was experienced by Marks & Spencer, an iconic retail company that has been around for 141 years. M&S stopped online ordering services for clothing and home products since April 25, after experiencing serious disruptions to contactless payment services and click and collect systems over the Easter holiday weekend. Until now, there has been no information on when the service will resume operations.
According to technology specialist BleepingComputer’s website, citing various sources, the attack on M&S was allegedly a ransomware attack carried out by a hacker group called Scattered Spider. This attack encrypts M&S’s servers and cripples various company-important services.
Britain itself has experienced a wave of cyberattacks in recent years, targeting private companies, public institutions, and other important institutions. These attacks have caused tens of millions of losses and resulted in operational disruptions that could last months.
With the increasing intensity and complexity of cyber threats, the UK government now emphasizes that preparedness and investment in digital security are no longer optional, but strategic necessity for all industrial sectors.
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