Harrods, the renowned luxury department store in London, has become the latest victim in a series of cyberattacks targeting major UK retailers. On April 30, 2025, the Qatar-owned retailer confirmed that its IT security team had detected unauthorized access attempts. In response, Harrods temporarily restricted internet access across its operations to safeguard its systems. Despite these measures, all Harrods retail sites, including its flagship Knightsbridge store and online services, remain operational .
This incident follows similar breaches at Marks & Spencer (M&S) and the Co-op Group. M&S has been unable to process online orders since April 19, leading to significant operational disruptions . The Co-op also experienced a breach attempt, resulting in a partial shutdown of its IT systems .
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has expressed concern over these incidents, urging businesses to bolster their cyber defenses. Richard Horne, CEO of the NCSC, described the attacks as a “wake-up call” for organizations to ensure robust cybersecurity measures are in place .
Investigations into the attacks are ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether the incidents are connected and to identify the perpetrators. Retailers are being advised to remain vigilant and to strengthen their cybersecurity protocols to mitigate the risk of future breaches.
Harrods Picture on flickr by Justin
