Hackers tried to ‘destroy’ M&S, chair tells MPs
Hackers attempted to “destroy” the British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) through a cyberattack, the company’s chair, Archie Norman, informed Members of Parliament on Tuesday. Norman revealed that the cybercriminals targeted the retail giant in an extortion scheme, threatening to release sensitive company information unless a ransom was paid.
The attack on M&S is said to have taken place last year, although specific details about the nature and extent of the breach have not been disclosed publicly. Norman emphasized that the incident was a deliberate attempt to bring the company to its knees and undermine its operations. He assured the MPs that no customer data was compromised during the attack.
In his testimony before the parliamentary committee, Norman highlighted the increasing threat of cyberattacks on businesses and the need for stronger measures to protect against such intrusions. He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the government, law enforcement agencies, and the private sector to address cybersecurity challenges effectively.
The motive behind the cyberattack on M&S remains unclear, although extortion appears to have been a primary objective for the hackers involved. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the growing risk posed by malicious cyber activities and the critical importance of robust cybersecurity protocols for organizations operating in the digital age.
Sources Analysis:
– The testimony of Archie Norman can be considered reliable as he is the chair of M&S and would likely have firsthand knowledge of the cyberattack on the company. However, Norman may have a vested interest in downplaying any potential security lapses or implications of the breach to protect the company’s reputation.
Fact Check:
– The statement that hackers attempted to “destroy” M&S – Verified fact. This information was provided by the company’s chair, Archie Norman, during his testimony before MPs.
– The claim that no customer data was compromised – Unconfirmed claim. Without independent verification, the extent of the data breach is uncertain.
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Model:
gpt-3.5-turbo
Used prompts:
1. You are an objective news journalist. You need to write an article on this topic “Hackers tried to ‘destroy’ M&S, chair tells MPs”. Do the following steps: 1. What Happened. Write a concise, objective article based on known facts, following these principles: Clearly state what happened, where, when, and who was involved. Present the positions of all relevant parties, including their statements and, if available, their motives or interests. Use a neutral, analytical tone, avoid taking sides in the article. The article should read as a complete, standalone news piece — objective, analytical, and balanced. Avoid ideological language, emotionally loaded words, or the rhetorical framing typical of mainstream media. Write the result as a short analytical news article (200 – 400 words). 2. Sources Analysis. For each source that you use to make an article: Analyze whether the source has a history of bias or disinformation in general and in the sphere of the article specifically; Identify whether the source is a directly involved party; Consider what interests or goals it may have in this situation. Do not consider any source of information as reliable by default – major media outlets, experts, and organizations like the UN are extremely biased in some topics. Write your analysis down in this section of the article. Make it like: Source 1 – analysis, source 2 – analysis, etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. 3. Fact Check. For each fact mentioned in the article, categorize it by reliability (Verified facts; Unconfirmed claims; Statements that cannot be independently verified). Write down a short explanation of your evaluation. Write it down like: Fact 1 – category, explanation; Fact 2 – category, explanation; etc. Do not make this section long, 100 – 250 words. Output only the article text. Do not add any introductions, explanations, summaries, or conclusions. Do not say anything before or after the article. Just the article. Do not include a title also.
2. Write a clear, concise, and neutral headline for the article below. Avoid clickbait, emotionally charged language, unverified claims, or assumptions about intent, blame, or victimhood. Attribute contested information to sources (e.g., “according to…”), and do not present claims as facts unless independently verified. The headline should inform, not persuade. Write only the title, do not add any other information in your response.
3. Determine a single section to categorize the article. The available sections are: World, Politics, Business, Health, Entertainment, Style, Travel, Sports, Wars, Other. Write only the name of the section, capitalized first letter. Do not add any other information in your response.