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UK monitors supply chain risks after Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack halts production

The UK government said Friday it is working with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to assess the fallout of a cyberattack that has kept the automaker’s factories offline for more than three weeks. JLR, Britain’s largest carmaker, confirmed its plants will remain shut until at least September 24, extending the disruption first triggered in early September when production was halted to contain the breach.

The shutdown has sparked growing concern over the impact on JLR’s extensive supply chain, which supports 104,000 jobs across the country, many of them at small and medium-sized firms. The Unite trade union has warned the stoppage could lead to layoffs if the disruption persists and has called for government intervention to protect workers.

In a joint statement, the government and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said officials, including national cyber experts, are directly supporting JLR’s recovery efforts and working to evaluate the knock-on effects across the industry.

The incident underscores the vulnerability of major manufacturing operations to cyberattacks and the risks they pose to national supply chains, especially in sectors where thousands of smaller firms depend on the output of a single large manufacturer.

M&S Digital Chief Steps Down Months After Cyberattack

Marks & Spencer (M&S) announced on Thursday that Rachel Higham, its chief digital and technology officer, is leaving the company less than a year after a major cyberattack crippled its online operations.

Higham, who joined in June 2023, will be taking a career break, according to an M&S spokesperson. “She has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business and we wish her well for the future,” the company said.

Fallout from the Cyberattack

  • In May, M&S estimated the hack would cost about £300 million ($405 million) in lost operating profit for the 2025/26 financial year.

  • The retailer said it hoped to offset about half of that hit through insurance payouts and cost controls.

Leadership Reshuffle

Higham’s departure has prompted a broader management shake-up:

  • Sacha Berendji, a long-time M&S executive, will now oversee digital and technology alongside his role in property and store development.

  • Thinus Keeve, retail director since June, will shift to report directly to CEO Stuart Machin.

Market Impact

M&S shares are down 8.5% year-to-date, as investors weigh the financial impact of the cyberattack alongside leadership changes.

UnitedHealth Tech Unit Hack Affected 192.7 Million People

A cyberattack on UnitedHealth Group’s (UNH.N) technology unit, Change Healthcare, last year affected 192.7 million people, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The company had previously estimated the breach impacted 190 million individuals.

Disclosed in February 2024, the attack—identified as the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history—was carried out by hackers claiming to be part of the “Blackcat” ransomware group. The breach caused widespread disruptions in claims processing and affected patients and healthcare providers nationwide.

A UnitedHealth spokesperson confirmed, “The final total number of individuals impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack is approximately 192.7 million,” noting that state-by-state figures may vary.

Compromised data is believed to include health insurance member IDs, patient diagnoses, treatment records, social security numbers, and provider billing codes. The breach is now listed in HHS’s official database of healthcare data breaches maintained by its Office for Civil Rights.