M&S Offers Discount to Irish Shoppers as Online Orders Remain Unavailable After April Cyberattack
Irish customers of Marks & Spencer (M&S) are being offered a 20% discount on fashion and homeware items as a "thank you" for their patience and support during the ongoing cyberattack that has crippled the retailer's online services. The offer is available until Wednesday, providing a much-needed lifeline to shoppers who have been unable to place orders online since the attack in April.
The Irish Data Protection Commission is still investigating the breach, which saw customer personal data, including names, email addresses, postal addresses, and dates of birth, accessed by hackers. M&S has estimated that the cyberattack cost the firm an estimated €335m, with changes being made to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Customer account holders were warned in April that some data may have been accessed by hackers who attacked and gained access to M&S' digital network. Contactless payments were briefly paused, and online shopping was stopped to protect customer data. However, the company has since restarted online services for UK customers, with click-and-collect still operational.
Meanwhile, Irish customers are facing longer delays as their websites remain unavailable due to security concerns. The M&S website has been carrying a message informing visitors that the site is only for browsing purposes at this time.
The breach was attributed to "human error", with chief executive Stuart Machin stating that hackers gained access to the company's IT systems through a third party. A team of experts has been tasked with fixing the issue, which M&S hopes will reduce the impact of the attack by half.
Despite the ongoing disruption, M&S is showing its appreciation for Irish customers' support and patience through the discount offer. The retailer acknowledges that the situation has caused inconvenience, but it is taking steps to ensure customer data remains secure in the future.
The Impact of the Cyberattack
The cyberattack on M&S has had significant consequences for the company. Stock systems were also targeted by hackers, leaving some shelves empty. The breach has also had a financial impact, with an estimated €335m loss reported by the retailer.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with the Data Protection Commission engaging with M&S management to ensure that all necessary steps are being taken to address the breach. The commission is committed to ensuring that Irish customers' personal data remains safe and secure.
A Message of Appreciation
Marks & Spencer has shown its appreciation for Irish customers' support and patience by offering a 20% discount on fashion and homeware items. This gesture demonstrates the retailer's commitment to making things right with its customers, even in difficult circumstances.
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