Major Security Flaws Found in UK Retailer Websites: Risks, Incidents, and What It Means for Shoppers

A comprehensive analysis of the digital infrastructure of European retailers has revealed extensive security weaknesses on the websites of UK retailers, exposing millions of customers to increased risk of cyber-attacks and data compromise. The findings come amid a broader surge in cyber-incidents targeting the UK retail sector — including high-profile attacks on major brands that have disrupted operations and highlighted persistent vulnerabilities.

What the Study Found: Weak SSL Certificates and Exposure to Hacking

Cybersecurity researchers at AI-driven security firm Ethiack analysed the public-facing web infrastructure used by 1,722 major European retailers, mapping tens of thousands of digital assets including e-commerce sites and customer-facing services. The results show that approximately one in five UK retailer sites expose visitors to hacking risks, primarily due to improperly configured security certificates and exposed web server details.

Key findings include:

• Nearly 20% of SSL certificates used by UK retailer websites were invalid, expired, or misconfigured, meaning encrypted connections may not be properly secured.
• Exposed server information could enable attackers to identify and exploit other weaknesses in the retailer infrastructure.
• UK retailers accounted for the highest number of security certificate failures in the Europe-wide dataset.

SSL/TLS certificates are a foundational layer of internet security, ensuring that communications between a user’s browser and a website are encrypted and protected from eavesdropping or tampering. Misconfigurations — such as expired or invalid certificates — break this trust mechanism and can leave users vulnerable to “man-in-the-middle” attacks, phishing and credential theft.

Context: Rising Cyber-Attack Activity Against UK Retailers

The new study’s findings land in the wake of a spate of serious cyber-security incidents affecting major UK retailers over the past year, underscoring systemic challenges in protecting both customer data and critical digital services.

Notable recent incidents include:

• Marks & Spencer (M&S): Suffered a prolonged and disruptive cyber-attack in 2025 that forced a halt to online orders and contactless payments, caused product shortages in stores and, according to reports, saw some customer personal data stolen.
• Harrods: The luxury department store confirmed it was targeted by cyber-attackers and took proactive steps to secure systems after unauthorized access attempts.
• The Co-op: Reported attempts at unauthorized system access, leading to protective measures that disrupted internal operations.

These events prompted responses from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and law enforcement agencies, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance and stronger defenses across the sector.

Why This Matters: Consumer and Business Impact

1. Increased Exposure for Shoppers

Invalid or misconfigured security certificates mean that customers may be sending personal information, login credentials and payment details over connections that aren’t properly secured — leaving them susceptible to interception by attackers.

Even if retailers themselves are not directly breached, poor security hygiene increases the likelihood of credential theft, account takeovers, phishing, and fraud. Independent fraud reports have also highlighted rising threats to shoppers during busy retail periods.

2. Ongoing Operational and Financial Damage

Cyber-attacks have already had tangible consequences for UK retailers, from halted web sales and disrupted logistics to significant financial losses. In M&S’s case, breaches and outages contributed to hundreds of millions in lost revenue and operational upheaval.

Frequent or prolonged outages also damage customer trust, suppress online engagement, and may shrink long-term market value for large retail brands.

3. Supply Chain and Third-Party Weaknesses

Many of the high-profile attacks against UK retailers have involved third-party suppliers, social engineering and help-desk impersonation — tactics that circumvent traditional perimeter defenses.

This highlights that enterprise cybersecurity must extend beyond the retailer’s own infrastructure to include partners and service providers whose systems connect with retail networks.

What Retailers Must Do Now

Security experts and regulatory bodies stress that retailers should urgently address these risks through actions such as:

• Ensuring SSL/TLS certificates are valid and properly configured across all customer-facing domains.
• Regular vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify and remediate weaknesses.
• Stronger identity and access controls, including multi-factor authentication for critical systems.
• Third-party cybersecurity audits of supply chain partners and service providers.
• Employee training on phishing and social engineering threats.

Given that cyber-criminal activity targeting UK businesses — including retail, automotive and essential services — is on the rise, these measures are considered essential to prevent future breaches.

Industry and Government Response

The NCSC continues to work with affected organizations to manage incidents and recover from attacks, and has repeatedly encouraged retailers and other businesses to adopt advanced cybersecurity standards and threat-detection practices.

In parallel, research such as the Ethiack study aims to shine a spotlight on systemic weaknesses and motivate industry-wide improvement — particularly as reliance on e-commerce continues to accelerate.

Conclusion: Digital Security Gaps in Retail Must Be Closed

The revelation that around 20% of UK retailer websites expose visitors to hacking risk due to SSL misconfigurations underscores a broader cybersecurity liability in the retail sector. Combined with recent cyber-attacks on major brands, the findings suggest a landscape where digital convenience can too often be undermined by vulnerable infrastructure.

For customers, this means being alert to encryption warnings, verifying site security, and taking precautions with personal information. For retailers, it signals an urgent need to invest in robust and proactive cybersecurity measures to protect both their operations and their customers in an increasingly hostile cyber environment.