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Britain to Warn Companies Cyber security must be ‘absolute Priority’

Published

1 week ago

May 6, 2025

LONDON (Reuters) — Following recent cyber attacks targeting major retailers like Marks & Spencer, the Co-op Group, and Harrods, the British government is set to issue a strong warning to all UK companies. The government will urge them to consider cybersecurity an “absolute priority.”

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden met on Friday with national security officials and Richard Horne, the Chief Executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to evaluate the support being extended to the impacted retail companies.

McFadden is scheduled to deliver a speech at the upcoming CyberUK conference in Manchester next week, where he will emphasize that the recent attacks should serve as a “wake-up call” for all businesses.

The government is also taking steps to “bolster our national defences,” including introducing new legislation known as the Cyber Security Bill.

McFadden is expected to state, “In a world where cybercriminals are constantly seeking financial gain, with attacks occurring every hour of every day, companies must treat cybersecurity as an absolute priority.”

Marks & Spencer (M&S), a prominent British retailer with a 141-year history, experienced disruptions to its online clothing and home order services. The issues began on April 25, affecting contactless payments and click-and-collect services over the Easter holiday weekend. The company has not yet announced when online orders will resume.

According to the technology website BleepingComputer, citing multiple sources, a ransomware attack that encrypted M&S’s servers is suspected to have been carried out by a hacking group known as “Scattered Spider.”

In recent years, British companies, public bodies, and institutions have faced a growing number of cyberattacks, resulting in significant financial losses and operational disruptions.

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