The Co-op is experiencing “sustained” and “malicious” attempts by hackers to breach its systems, with intruders successfully accessing and extracting data from one of its platforms.

The data believed to have been taken includes Co-op Group members’ personal information such as names, contact details (residential addresses, email addresses and phone numbers), and dates of birth.

However, it is not believed that members’ passwords, bank or credit card details, transaction data, or information relating to any members’ or customers’ products or services with the Co-op Group were accessed. Member passwords were not stored in the affected system and are not thought to have been compromised.

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A spokesperson for the Co-op described the situation as “highly complex” and confirmed that an investigation is underway in conjunction with the National Cyber Security Centre and the National Crime Agency.

They said: “We have implemented measures to ensure that we prevent unauthorised access to our systems whilst minimising disruption for our members, customers, colleagues and partners.

“As a result of ongoing forensic investigations, we now know that the hackers were able to access and extract data from one of our systems. The accessed data included information relating to a significant number of our current and past members.”

The spokesperson added that protecting the security of its members’ and customers’ data is a priority.

“We are very sorry that this situation has arisen,” they said.

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