According to a statement issued this week, the NCSC is working with affected organizations in the retail sector to assess the attacks' nature and impact. "The disruption caused by the recent incidents impacting the retail sector are naturally a cause for concern to those businesses affected, their customers and the public," said Dr Richard Horne, CEO of the NCSC.

"These incidents should act as a wake-up call to all organisations. I urge leaders to follow the advice on the NCSC website to ensure they have appropriate measures in place to help prevent attacks and respond and recover effectively."

Harrods told BleepingComputer that threat actors recently attempted to hack into its network, which prompted the luxury department store to restrict internet access to sites. While Harrods didn't share whether its systems were breached, limiting access to some platforms hints at an active response to the attack.

Last week, Marks & Spencer was also hit by a cyberattack that caused disruptions across online ordering systems and impacted its contactless payments and Click & Collect services. BleepingComputer later confirmed that the Marks & Spencer breach was a ransomware attack with threat actors using tactics associated with Scattered Spider, where they deployed the DragonForce ransomware on the company's network.

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It is crucial for businesses and individuals to stay vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves from future cyberattacks. By following the advice on the NCSC website and implementing robust cybersecurity measures, organizations can help prevent attacks and respond effectively in case of a breach.