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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/28/marks-spencer-shuts-down-website-due-to-technical-glitch
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Marks & Spencer shuts down website due to technical glitch | Marks & Spencer shuts down website due to technical glitch |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Marks & Spencer has apologised for a data breach that forced it to suspend its website for two hours after customers were able to view other people’s personal details when logging into their accounts online. | Marks & Spencer has apologised for a data breach that forced it to suspend its website for two hours after customers were able to view other people’s personal details when logging into their accounts online. |
| The retailer blamed a technical issue, which affected 800 customers, and said it acted quickly to resolve the problem. It stressed that it was not hacked by a third party and that no one’s financial details were compromised. | |
| The company said that it was writing to every customer affected to “apologise and to assure them that their financial details are safe”. Its statement came after several shoppers called on M&S to provide reassurance that their details would not be misused. | |
| The technical glitch comes just days after the phone and broadband provider Talk Talk admitted that it had been hacked. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in Northern Ireland in connection with the cyber-attack. At the weekend, Talk Talk said the hack was not as bad as first thought and would not allow money to be taken from bank accounts. | The technical glitch comes just days after the phone and broadband provider Talk Talk admitted that it had been hacked. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in Northern Ireland in connection with the cyber-attack. At the weekend, Talk Talk said the hack was not as bad as first thought and would not allow money to be taken from bank accounts. |
| M&S customers posted messages on the high street chain’s Facebook page to alert it to the data breach. They said they were able to see past orders and personal information of other customers online when they logged on to register their new Sparks reward cards. | M&S customers posted messages on the high street chain’s Facebook page to alert it to the data breach. They said they were able to see past orders and personal information of other customers online when they logged on to register their new Sparks reward cards. |
| One customer, Russell Harding, wrote: “Well I tried to register my Sparks card but logged into my account and found another persons details, orders and personal information. This is more than a glitch in the system, this is totally reckless in light of the recent Talk Talk incident. What I want to know is who has my information and now what can they do with it.” | One customer, Russell Harding, wrote: “Well I tried to register my Sparks card but logged into my account and found another persons details, orders and personal information. This is more than a glitch in the system, this is totally reckless in light of the recent Talk Talk incident. What I want to know is who has my information and now what can they do with it.” |
| Becky Connor, another shopper, posted on the page: “I also registered my card tonight to find that I could see at least another three customers’ details. Their name, address, telephone number, date of birth and what they have previously ordered. Not very good M&S.” Another customer said she saw other people’s information even when she logged out and in again. | Becky Connor, another shopper, posted on the page: “I also registered my card tonight to find that I could see at least another three customers’ details. Their name, address, telephone number, date of birth and what they have previously ordered. Not very good M&S.” Another customer said she saw other people’s information even when she logged out and in again. |
| Some customers claimed they could see other people’s payment details. A spokeswoman said people might have been able to see the last four digits of another person’s payment card “for a brief moment”, but as details were encrypted there was no security risk. | Some customers claimed they could see other people’s payment details. A spokeswoman said people might have been able to see the last four digits of another person’s payment card “for a brief moment”, but as details were encrypted there was no security risk. |