Latest news with #MarksAndSpencer
Forbes
23 minutes ago
- Business
- Forbes
FBI Warning Issued As 2FA Bypass Attacks Surge — Act Now
The FBI issues Scattered Spider attack warning. When the Federal Bureau of Investigation issues a cybersecurity alert, you would be well advised to pay attention and take action. Whether that's involving malicious SMS messages, AI-powered phishing attacks, or, as I recently reported, the skyrocketing number of ransomware threats. And ransomware is the subject of this latest, critical, warning from the FBI. This time involving the Scattered Spider threat group which has made headlines after taking responsibility for multiple retail sector attacks including that against Marks & Spencer in the U.K. which is estimated to have cost the high street chain at least $600 million. Now the group is targeting the airline industry, the FBI has warned, both directly and through the entire supply chain. Here's what you need to know. FBI Confirms Scattered Spider Attacks Targeting Transportation A June 26 report from ransomware analysts at Halcyon warned that there were 'indications that Scattered Spider is also now targeting the Food, Manufacturing, and Transportation (particularly Aviation) sectors in the US.' This has now been confirmed by the FBI which provided a statement to me by email that said: 'The FBI has recently observed the cybercriminal group Scattered Spider expanding its targeting to include the airline sector.' The statement continued to confirm that the ransomware group is using the same methods during this surge of attacks into new sectors, namely 'social engineering techniques, often impersonating employees or contractors to deceive IT help desks into granting access.' Specifically, Scattered Spider looks to bypass mutli-factor authentication, commonly referred to as MFA or 2FA, by using various methods to get those help desks to 'add unauthorized MFA devices to compromised accounts.' Scattered Spider has been on the FBI radar for a number of years, with a joint cybersecurity advisory alongside the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published in 2023 in response to what it described as 'activity by Scattered Spider threat actors against the commercial facilities sectors and subsectors.' The FBI told me that it is currently actively working with aviation and industry partners 'to address this activity and assist victims,' and urged anyone who thinks their organization may have been targeted to contact their local FBI office. In the meantime, beware of anyone asking for unauthorized 2FA devices to be added to accounts and follow established security processes and procedures to the letter, no matter what the person making the request may say.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I walked 10k steps a day in Next's stylish summer sandals – they are super comfy, have plenty of support & look nice on
FINDING the perfect pair of summer sandals is easier said than done sometimes, especially if you're on the hunt for shoes that are both stylish and comfortable. But Next have saved summer thanks to their stylish footwear. The Skechers Desert Kiss Low Peak Look Sandals are available for just £39 - shoppers can also snap them up from Debenhams too. They're available in sizes 3 - 8, with four stunning colour options to choose from - black, brown, gold and silver. Made from vegan leather with a corn veneer midsole trim, the sandals also features memory foam footbed for optimum comfort - what's not to love? Impressively, the sandals have an average rating of four stars out of five from early reviews. One happy shopper said: "Excellent sandals - very comfy, soft soles, great fit and easy to walk in." Meanwhile, someone else chimed in: "Really comfortable, a bit tight at first but I wore them everyday on a two-week holiday and within a couple of days they were perfect and very easy to walk in. "I did 10k steps a day and they were still comfy, plenty of support and I love how they look!" Another review said: "Love these sliders so comfortable and look really nice on. Have tried other makes of sliders before but they don't compete with Skechers, what can I say love them." They're not the only stylish sandals fashionistas have been rushing to get their hands on though. Marks and Spencer shoppers claim to have found just that in the Wide Fit Ankle Strap Block Heel Sandals. Shoppers race to Primark for 'dressy top' that's perfect for a pair of jeans - it's sexy & flattering & in two colours vailable in three colours - platinum, tan and black - the sandals have a small heel to dress up any outfit, while still remaining comfortable for long days out. Better yet, the sandals are available in sizes 3 to 8, with half sizes available for all to ensure you can get the perfect fit. The timeless sandals are crafted from leather and designed in a wide fit style so you don't have to worry about your feet being uncomfortable. One said: "I got the black ones. They fit really well and I love the way it looks on. It's pretty comfortable and I like the adjustable buckle it has." A second also loved the shoes and said "I bought these last year in tan, had doubts at first about comfort but after wearing them for about 12 hours when at a wedding in hot Spain I changed my mind. "Nice height heel, I can't wear flat shoes now, so they felt a little more dressed up." How to look chic on a budget Fashion stylist Gemma Rose Breger, and beauty journalist Samantha Silver revealed how you can make your outfits elevated without spending hundreds of pounds. Don't ever spend on designer denim: River Island ''always has such a great selection of fashion-forward jeans that follow the current trends''. The high street retailer offers a great range of sizes to fit UK 6 - UK 18, and three leg lengths - and prices start from an affordable £25. There are no rules for jewels: ''Pick up something at a car boot sale, or charity shop, scroll on Vinted & eBay, snap up something from the clothing section in your local supermarket when doing the food shop or check out high street clothing stores.'' Don't forget the pre-loved sites: With a rising number of second-hand sites, such as Vinted and Depop, there's no excuse for not buying - or selling - pre-loved garments. Gemma, for instance, has managed to get her hands on chic Chanel sunnies for a mere £17.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Marks & Spencer hits out at grocery red tape madness
The boss of Marks & Spencer has hit out over 'bureaucratic madness' ahead of costly Northern Ireland red tape coming into force next week. Stuart Machin took aim at the changes which are being introduced despite Labour's claim to have reset EU relations. The rules mean thousands of everyday grocery products will require special labels when they are shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Retailers already have to do this for all meat and dairy products under the Windsor Framework agreement between the UK and the EU. And even more products – from fruit and vegetables to fish and pizza – need extra checks from July 1. Machin said it meant retailers were facing 'yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape'. M&S operates 22 shops in Northern Ireland. Its operations in the region, like those of other UK-wide retailers, are complicated by the fact that Northern Ireland shares a land border with the Republic of Ireland, which is in the EU. Machin (pictured) said that more than a thousand M&S products will require a 'not for EU' label and another 400 will need to go through extra checks in the so-called 'red lane' for goods. In a post on X, he added: 'Quite frankly it's bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.' Andrew Opie, director of food at the British Retail Consortium, said: 'The thousands of additional products needing 'not for EU' labelling in July combined with hard-line enforcement means retailers face a huge challenge maintaining choice for their customers in Northern Ireland.' In February, M&S managing director for food Alex Freudmann criticised the heavy paperwork involved with sending goods from Britain to the Republic of Ireland. This paperwork 'takes hours to complete and demands detail as niche as the Latin name for the chicken that is used in our chicken tikka masala,' he said. A Government spokesman said: 'Not for EU' labelling was agreed as part of the Windsor Framework in 2023. Labelling will only be required for certain food and drink products. Many things like cakes, bread, pasta and alcohol will not need to be labelled. 'When implemented, agreements we secured at the UK-EU Summit will reduce the need for this labelling and make it easier to move goods between the UK and Europe. 'We will continue to work closely with businesses to support them in implementing these arrangements, helping them to continue to move their goods smoothly across the UK.'
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
M&S boss slams ‘bureaucratic madness' of products requiring ‘not for EU' labels
The boss of Marks & Spencer has called on the government to rapidly reset relations with the EU and criticised new rules which demand extra checks and labelling on products headed from the UK mainland to Northern Ireland as 'bureaucratic madness'. Stuart Machin, the chief executive of M&S which has 25 stores in Northern Ireland, said that from next week the retailer would have to label 1,000 more products destined for the UK country with 'not for EU' while another 400 items would require 'additional checks'. The 'not for EU' labelling is designed to prevent products intended for sale in Northern Ireland being moved to the Republic of Ireland, which is an EU member. In a post on X, he said the change in rules added 'yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for food retailers like M&S.' 'Quite frankly it's bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world.' The changes come before the implementation of a new deal between the government and the EU to remove the need for health and veterinary certification, known as sanitary and phytosanitary checks (SPS), on exports of farm products ranging from fresh meat and dairy products to vegetables, timber, wool and leather. The details of the deal, which was part of a major reset in EU-UK relations announced in May, are still being thrashed out and experts believe this could take up to a year. Earlier this month the government said that before the final deal, it was scrapping plans to introduce checks this summer on EU imports of 'medium-risk fruit and vegetables', such as tomatoes, peppers, grapes, plums and cherries. Machin said 'The government's SPS deal with the EU will be gamechanging, and it can't come soon enough!' From 1 July the final phase of the Windsor framework, which was designed to protect the EU single market and stop British goods leaking into the bloc via the Republic of Ireland, comes into force, requiring some goods to hold the 'not for the EU' labels. The deal was a compromise to obviate the need for some border checks on fresh foods such as sausages. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion Some unpackaged fruit and vegetables and items such as confectionery, chocolate, pasta, biscuits and coffee are exempt. Until now, the 'not for EU' labelling requirement applied only to meat and some fresh dairy products. The Windsor framework, which tweaked the Brexit arrangements that created the Irish Sea trade border, came into force in March 2023. Most large businesses were able to ease the flow of their goods a few months later when a trusted-trader scheme was launched. In May 2021, a few months after Brexit was implemented, Marks & Spencer said the changes in trade arrangement had added about £30m of costs to its dealings with the island of Ireland. It has since changed some ways of working and sources of supply.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Post-Brexit food labelling branded ‘bureaucratic madness' by M&S boss
Marks and Spencer's chief executive has lambasted a key aspect of the Windsor Framework's final phase as "bureaucratic madness," as over 1,000 products destined for Northern Ireland will soon require "Not for EU" labelling. Stuart Machin revealed the significant operational challenge, describing the new requirement as "yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for retailers." From next week, a substantial portion of M&S's product range for Northern Ireland will need these specific labels affixed. The "Not for EU" labels have been progressively introduced since the post-Brexit trading deal, known as the Windsor Framework, was agreed in 2023. This framework was negotiated between the UK and the European Union to resolve complexities arising from the Northern Ireland Protocol, which effectively maintains Northern Ireland within the EU's trade orbit. The stringent labelling rules are designed to prevent goods intended for the UK market from inadvertently entering the EU single market via the Republic of Ireland. Despite the current friction, the UK Government recently indicated its expectation for a more streamlined flow of trade once its new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU is finalised. Mr Machin indicated he was hopeful that the stickers may become unnecessary following the new deal. He took to social media on Friday to express his frustration. 'Next week sees the final phase of the Windsor Framework come into effect, adding yet another layer of unnecessary costs and red tape for food retailers like M&S. – 1000+ M&S products destined for Northern Ireland will need to have a 'Not For EU' label stuck on them,' he posted on the social media platform X. 'Another 400 will need to go through additional checks in the 'Red Lane'. 'Quite frankly it's bureaucratic madness, confusing for customers, and completely unnecessary given the UK has some of the highest food standards in the world. 'The Government's SPS deal with the EU will be game-changing, and it can't come soon enough!'
