Data Breach Alert: Experts Offer Crucial Advice to Marks and Spencer and Co-op Shoppers

Experts have highlighted crucial steps for customers to take following the recent data breach incidents at Marks and Spencer (M&S) and Co-op. The breaches, which occurred in late April and early May, resulted in hackers potentially stealing customers' personal details, including contact information. In response, a cybersecurity expert has advised individuals to check if their email address was involved in the breaches by visiting HaveIBeenPwned.com. Those whose data has been compromised have been urged to change their passwords, set up multifactor authentication, and use spam filtering links on their email.

Key Takeaways:

• Customers of M&S and Co-op who have been receiving spam emails may have been affected by the data breach. To check, visit HaveIBeenPwned.com and enter your email address.
• If your data has been stolen, change your passwords immediately, set up multifactor authentication, and use spam filtering links on your email.
• Use 'Blocking and Filtering' settings on your email to reroute unwanted correspondences directly to the Spam folder.
• Be cautious of 'Unsubscribe' links in spam emails, as clicking on them can confirm your email address is active and may lead to even more unsolicited emails.
• Introduce spam and scam filters where needed and be mindful of unsolicited emails that come into your inbox.
• Those affected by the breach have been reassured that M&S does not have evidence of the stolen information being shared, and Co-op has taken early and decisive action to restrict access to their systems.

Statistics:

• April 22: M&S halted its online ordering system after the data breach incident.
• May 2: Co-op spokesperson disclosed that they were still facing "sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access" their systems.
• May 14: Co-op provided a latest statement regarding the incident.