There has been a worrying flurry of cyber-attacks in the last few weeks, most notably on M&S, Harrods and Co-op – and even West Lothian Council has had its education system infiltrated.
It is thought that hackers have been impersonating IT help desks in order to break into some of our biggest retailers.
These attacks have had a huge impact on the operations of the businesses and their customers right across the UK. But it is most obvious on Scotland’s islands, where it has caused Co-op shelves to be left bare as its store deliveries have been affected.
It’s a real problem for locals with Co-op the main retailer in some of the islands and very limited options to shop elsewhere. Fresh items such as milk have had to be rationed and many have run out completely of fruit, veg, dairy and meat.
While schools in West Lothian have been able to remain open for pupils while its cyber-attack is investigated, a similar attempted attack on Edinburgh’s education system just days later resulted in the council resetting pupils’ passwords as a precaution. This meant that pupils undertaking their exams this month lost access to their online learning resources until they were able to visit their school to be given their new passwords.
I read that insurance firm QBE reported that the number of “disruptive and destructive global cyber-attacks” occurring annually has more than doubled between 2020 and 2024. On our doorstep, the number of attempted attacks on the Scottish Government alone doubled between 2023 and 2024.
It’s no surprise that these attacks have become more frequent post-pandemic.
The pandemic forced businesses to radically shift how they operate. Thankfully, we had the technology to help enable social distancing – cashless payments, working remotely, pupils accessing online learning resources.
These shifts to digital were vital in the face of a quickly spreading virus we didn’t know much about at the time – and meant businesses could keep operating as best they could.
And even though social distancing restrictions have long since been lifted, many of the digital processes which were introduced remain – it’s accelerated the use of cashless payments, many businesses still operate a flexible working pattern, and schools still use online platforms for learning and homework.
But the impact of these cyber-attacks has certainly demonstrated that there is very much still a place for analogue ways of working.
M&S had to pause the ability to make online orders, meaning customers had to physically visit their stores, and its travel money service had to provide handwritten foreign exchange notes. Co-op had issues accepting contactless and chip-and-pin payments, which meant they could only accept cash.
New technology will always evolve and change the way our businesses operate, finding more efficient and convenient processes, and these recent cyber-attacks won’t change the digital direction we’re headed in. But they have demonstrated that in some cases, we can’t disregard the old way of doing things completely – they may just save the day, just as technology did during the pandemic.
Last year analysts at Merchant Machine identified when each UK constituency and city is predicted to be cashless. Interestingly East Dunbartonshire was tipped to be the first area in Scotland to be cashless and have no ATMs by November 2027.
But it’s the increasing shift to cashless which is also what attracts the cyber hackers, particularly to retailers, as the convenience of tapping your card, ordering online or the financial benefits of having loyalty card also means that they have a vast amount of customer data to hand.
I’ll be interested to see if the cyber-attacks on the retail industry will slow or even stop the trend towards a cashless society.
If we were a completely cashless society now, what would that have meant for Co-op? Would its stores have had to close completely until the issue was resolved? And what would that have meant for our islands where there isn’t another big retailer to go to?
It’s clear the world has moved on, and you’re not going to turn up and buy a property or business with cash, but as recent circumstances have shown, I don’t think we’re ready to do away with it just yet.
Capital Gains in Capsule Hotels
I’m excited to see the £10million capsule hotel plans just off St Andrew’s Square in Edinburgh come to life, but I hope the city’s architecture and atmosphere are protected.
Capsule hotels are a smart concept. They meet the needs of modern travellers looking for something affordable, flexible, and tech orientated. Cities like London, Amsterdam and Paris have embraced them. It makes sense for Edinburgh to follow.
We can’t afford to fall behind. The way people travel has changed. This project could turn a vacant building into something vibrant, with pods, a rooftop bar and restaurant. It can create jobs, attract visitors, and bring new energy to the city centre.
But here’s the catch: what works in Tokyo or Berlin doesn’t always work here. Edinburgh is a global brand. Its streets and skyline are part of its appeal. Developers need to understand that. If you’re building in this city, you have to respect its identity.
That means thinking carefully about design, materials, and the experience you’re offering. The idea is cool. The technology is impressive. But does it feel like it belongs in Edinburgh? That’s a complicated question which needs to be really looked at.
If the team behind the new concept, Tarka, gets that balance right, this could be something special. A new option for young and vibrant travellers.
But if they lose sight of the character that makes Edinburgh unique, they’ll miss the mark.
Let’s welcome innovation, but not at the expense of what makes this city one of a kind.
It Made Me Laugh: A Shame for Punk Blocker
It’s hard to picture a small optician in Dundee posing much of a threat to punk icons the Sex Pistols, but Spex Pistols has been forced to change its name, to the less rock-n-roll Land O’Spex.
That said, intellectual property is a serious business, and this case is a sharp reminder to ensure you do your due diligence on what would be in breach of a trademark. Even a cleverly named spectacle shop can find itself staring down a cease and desist.
Protecting intellectual property isn’t just about logos, but about safeguarding the value, identity and hard work behind a brand and idea.
Still, sending legal letters over a spectacle pun isn’t exactly the most punk move.
It Made Me Cry: Sir Tom’s Remarkable Legacy
I was sad to hear of the passing of Sir Tom Farmer, one of Scotland’s most remarkable business figures. From a tenement flat in Leith, he built Kwik Fit into the world’s largest independent tyre and automotive chain, eventually selling it to Ford for £1 billion in 1999.
His business instinct was razor-sharp, but so too was his sense of purpose. He believed in doing business with integrity, famously supporting his staff, his community and his country.
A proud Scot who remained rooted in Edinburgh throughout his life, Sir Tom showed that world-class enterprise could come from the humblest of beginnings. His impact on Scottish business will be felt for generations.
