Indian IT large investigates M&S cyber-attack hyperlink

An Indian IT firm is conducting an inside investigation to find out whether or not it was the gateway for the cyber-attack on Marks & Spencer, BBC Information understands.

Tata Consultancy Providers (TCS) has supplied providers to M&S for greater than a decade.

Earlier this week, M&S mentioned the hackers who had introduced big disruption to the retailer had managed to achieve entry to their methods by way of a “third occasion” – an organization working alongside it – relatively than accessing these methods immediately.

M&S and TCS have each declined to remark.

The FT, which first reported the story, cited folks near the investigation who mentioned it was hoped the inquiry could be concluded by the top of the month.

It isn’t clear when TCS launched its investigation.

Prospects haven’t been in a position to purchase objects on the M&S web site for the reason that finish of April.

It mentioned earlier this week that on-line providers ought to see a gradual return to regular over the approaching weeks, however some stage of disruption would proceed till July.

M&S estimates that the cyber-attack will hit this yr’s earnings by round £300m.

Police are specializing in a infamous group of English-speaking hackers, often called Scattered Spider, the BBC has realized.

The identical group is believed to have been behind assaults on the Co-op and Harrods, however it was M&S that suffered the largest influence.

TCS says it has over 607,000 staff internationally and is the lead sponsor of three prestigious marathons – New York, London and Sydney.

On its web site, TCS mentioned it labored with M&S on Sparks, its buyer reward scheme.

In 2023, TCS and M&S gained the Retail Partnership of the Yr award on the Retail Programs Awards.

TCS has a portfolio of well-known shoppers together with the Co-op, based on its web site.

There isn’t any indication if the inner probe can also be wanting on the hack on the Co-Op.

TCS additionally counts easyjet, Nationwide and Jaguar Land Rover amongst its many purchasers.

Earlier this week, M&S chief government Stuart Machin mentioned: “Over the previous couple of weeks, we now have been managing a extremely refined and focused cyber-attack, which has led to a restricted interval of disruption.”

In a media name on Wednesday, he didn’t reply to a query about whether or not the corporate had paid a ransom as a part of the method.