Several major UK companies and institutions were affected by the recent cyberattack and global IT outage, leading to widespread disruptions across various sectors. This does not mean the cyber criminals are only targeting specific companies, You could also be at risk !!! 

SME’s and individuals are not exempt from these threats as you can imagine how much valuable data, Financial information, relationships etc. that we all store on our devices reluctantly these days.

Always be aware and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself whilst online and also your devices in general.

Click here – To gain more knowledge and tips on how to protect yourself and your devices, at work and at home. We have many resources to assist you in bumping up your current skills and methods to certainly improve your online safety, prevent any unwanted cyber attacks, eliminate any current vulnerabilities you might have.

Nationwide Disruption – Significant Cyber Attacks

Retail Sector

Marks & Spencer (M&S): Suffered a significant ransomware attack starting April 21, 2025, disrupting online orders, recruitment, and contactless payments. The incident led to a market value loss exceeding £650 million.

Co-op: Implemented system restrictions, affecting back-office and call centre functions, though retail operations continued.

Latest news & breaking headlines

Harrods: Faced a cyber-threat, prompting the restriction of internet access across operations.

Healthcare Services

GP Surgeries: Approximately 3,700 GP practices using the EMIS Web System were unable to access patient records or book appointments.

Pharmacies: Experienced delays in receiving prescriptions and medicine deliveries due to system failures.

Hospitals: Some hospitals, including the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, declared critical incidents due to IT issues affecting radiotherapy treatments.

Transportation

Airports: Luton and Edinburgh Airports switched to manual systems to support operations. British Airways reported potential flight disruptions due to operational system issues.

Rail Services: Operators like Thameslink, Southern Rail, and Gatwick Express faced widespread IT issues, leading to potential delays and ticketing problems.

Other Affected Sectors

Supermarkets: Chains such as Waitrose and Morrisons reported issues with contactless payments, prompting some stores to accept only cash or chip-and-pin transactions.

Media Outlets: Sky News was forced to pull its morning broadcast, replacing it with pre-recorded footage.

Financial Services: The London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service went offline, though trading continued as normal.

The cyberattack and IT outage underscore the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and the need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors.

UK Companies Impacted by Recent Cyberattack

UK retailers under attack: why hackers hit household names

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Harrods becomes latest UK retailer to face cyber threat as M&S’ struggles persist

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Latest news & breaking headlines

M&S staff share war stories of ‘toughest’ week after cyberattack

Today

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