Marks & Spencer Resumes Partial Online Orders After Cyberattack Disruptions

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has resumed limited online clothing orders in England, Scotland, and Wales after a 46-day halt caused by a ransomware cyberattack that began in April. The attack, attributed to hackers who tricked employees at a third-party contractor, disrupted key IT systems and halted all online orders, impacting delivery services and leading to logistical challenges that left shelves bare. M&S plans to gradually restore more products, with deliveries and click-and-collect services for Northern Ireland expected to resume in the coming weeks. The retailer anticipates the incident will cost about £300 million in lost operating profit for its 2025/26 financial year but aims to mitigate the impact through insurance and cost controls. The breach caused a significant drop in M&S's share price and market valuation, though recent trading showed some recovery. M&S's chairman acknowledged the consequences may linger for weeks or months but remained optimistic about the company's long-term outlook.