Harrods, Iconic Department Store, Latest British Retailer Hit by Cyberattack

LONDON — In a disturbing trend for the retail sector, Harrods, one of the most iconic and luxurious department stores in the world, has become the latest British retailer to fall victim to a cyberattack. The London-based retail giant, owned by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, is among several high-end businesses that have been targeted by hackers in recent weeks.

A general view of Harrods store in Knightsbridge, central London. (Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Details of the cyberattack remain unclear, but some customers have reported being unable to complete purchases online. The Qatar-owned department store said it was forced to temporarily shut down some systems after realizing it was being targeted earlier this week. In a statement, Harrods added that customer payment data was not compromised during the attempted breach.

"We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems," the store said. "Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe and as a result we have restricted internet access at our sites today." This hacking attempt follows shortly after two other major British retailers — Marks & Spencer and Co-op — were targeted in online breaches.

Both retailers have lost millions after they were forced to shut down parts of their IT systems to protect themselves from further attacks. Marks & Spencers has been unable to complete online orders since last Friday. It's still unclear whether the three cyberattacks are connected, but the incident highlights the vulnerability of high-end businesses to online security breaches.

As the retail sector continues to grapple with the risks posed by cyberattacks, Harrods' experience serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. The fact that customer payment data was not compromised during the attempted breach is a positive note, but it also underscores the need for businesses to remain vigilant and proactive in protecting their systems from online threats.