Hackers Strike Harrods in Latest UK Cyberattack Summary Harrods department store has been hit by a cyberattack resulting in the theft of customer personal data. This attack is the latest in a series targeting prominent UK institutions and businesses. Key Details Data Breached: Names and contact details from a third-party online shopping system used by Harrods. Data Not Affected: Passwords and payment card details were not compromised. Ongoing Investigations: In July, four individuals, including a 17-year-old boy, were arrested on suspicion of cyberattacks involving Harrods, the Co-op, and Marks and Spencer. Arrests and investigations are continuing. Broader Context of UK Cyberattacks Increasing frequency of cyberattacks on UK businesses and institutions has been reported recently. Recent incidents include: Hackers stealing personal data of approximately 8,000 children from nursery chain Kido, with blackmail attempts following. A ransomware attack on Collins Aerospace caused delays for thousands of passengers at Heathrow and other European airports. Jaguar Land Rover’s production remains halted after an August cyberattack and may not resume until November. Disruptions for LNER and Qantas from cyberattacks in 2023. NHS postponed 11,000 appointments last year due to a ransomware attack. Government and Security Responses Rising recognition of cybersecurity weaknesses in the UK. The Prime Minister’s plan to introduce digital ID cards faces opposition: More than 1.6 million people signed a petition to scrap digital ID plans. Experts warn such a database would be a prime target for hackers. A new cybersecurity and resilience bill aims to mandate more incident reporting, but progress has been slow. Businesses are reluctant to accept tighter regulation despite major cybersecurity incidents impacting economic growth. Attackers Profile Cyberattack perpetrators include: Organized criminal gangs. State-sponsored hackers (e.g., from Russia, China). Hacktivists pursuing political agendas. Approximately half of UK businesses reported security breaches in the past year, according to a government survey. --- Related Articles "Britain is not yet an opioid nation but rising drug deaths demand a new approach" — Martha Gill "Cyber-attack on three European airports leads to disruption for thousands" — James Tapper "Profile: Led by Donkeys" — Andrew Anthony --- Visuals Featured image: Exterior of Harrods (photo by Andy Hall for The Observer). --- Newsletter Invitations Readers are invited to subscribe to newsletters such as: Daily Sensemaker The Observer Daily Food Weekly --- Social Sharing Options provided to share this article on: Twitter (X) Facebook Bluesky LinkedIn Threads Email --- Copyright and Notices © 2025 Tortoise Media. All rights reserved. Site protection via Google reCAPTCHA with Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service applied. --- This article was written by James Tapper, News Reporter for The Observer.