Co-op attack 'not impacting Channel Islands data'

A cyber attack on the Co-op Group in the UK has not compromised data security in Guernsey or Jersey, the Channel Islands' group says.

Hackers infiltrated the UK group's IT networks and claimed to have stolen the customer and employee data of more than 20 million people.

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society (CI Coop) said: "We can confirm that this incident has not impacted data security or systems functionality at CI Coop, and that the data of our members has not been compromised."

It said the UK-based group did not store the personal details of members of the Channel Islands' organisation.

CI Coop chief executive officer Mark Cox said he was "confident we'll be back to normal as quickly as we can".

"It's important to reassure local members that the incident in the UK has not impacted on the security of our systems or any of the personal data we hold on members here in the island," he said.

"Our systems remain secure."

He said the stores in the Channel Islands were "looking a bit short of product" but staff were "working really hard with the coop in the UK to get back to normal as quickly as possible".

"What we will experience over the next few days is not having full availability of all products at all times but we are getting deliveries to the island," he said.

A spokesperson for CI Coop said: "Due to the sustained malicious attempts by hackers to access to Co-op Group systems, they have taken proactive steps to keep their systems safe.

"This is temporarily impacting our colleagues' ability to perform their roles and how many deliveries we are getting into our stores.

"We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to our members and customers."

The UK Co-op has more than 2,500 supermarkets, as well as 800 funeral homes and an insurance business.

It employs about 70,000 staff nationwide in the UK.

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