Stores across the UK have been forced to close following the cyber attack

High street retailer The Works says it was targeted by a cyber attack – forcing some of its stores to close.

The hackers are said to have hit British discount stationery and book retailers with ransomware – a type of computer virus that allows attackers to take control of a system and then demand money for its return.

The retailer said the hack had shut down five of its 526 stores since last week, causing problems with the company’s tiles and disrupting its supply to its stores.

But officials at The Works say their technical team was able to quickly deactivate the company’s computers after being alerted to a breach by their firewall system.

It is understood the agency has not yet heard from hackers and has yet to confirm where the attack came from around the world.

However, the company insists that no customer payment data has been accessed, as it is stored in a separate third party system.

The stationery and book retailer said the cyber-attack had led to a temporary suspension of new stock deliveries to its stores and longer delivery times for online orders.

The stationery and book retailer said the hacking had led to a temporary suspension of delivery of new stock to its stores and longer delivery times for online orders.

It said store deliveries were “expected to resume in the near future” and that its normal online service levels were being resumed uninterrupted.

Boss added that the firm does not currently expect the incident to have a ‘material adverse effect’ on its financial position or forecast. However, according to Sky News, the company’s shares fell 10 percent in the opening market.

In a statement, Dean Howell, chairman of The Works, a wholly-owned Huddersfield Town FC chairman and founder of the card factory, said “there has been some limited disruption to trade and business.”

A spokesman said: ‘This includes some store closures due to problems.

‘Customers can continue to shop safely at Works, both in-store and online.

‘All debit and credit card payments are processed securely through accredited third-party networks, outside the data group system, and so there is no risk of inaccurate access to this payment data.’

The retailer said it had taken several steps after being alerted to a breach by its security firewall.

Works has disabled all internal and external access to its system, including email, while it works with its advisers to evaluate and correct the situation.

External cyber security experts have also been hired and are currently conducting investigations and retrieval work.

The company added that while payment data has not been compromised, it has not yet set a “complete level that could affect any other data.”

So the information commissioner’s office has also been informed. An ICO spokesman told MailOnline: “The works have reported to us and we are evaluating the information provided.”

Ransomware hack is one of the most common types of cyber attacks as well as DDoS – distributed denial of service.

One of the most known ransomware attacks on the NHS in 2017 via the WannaCry hack.

In 2017, more than a third of hospital trusts – a total of 81 – had their computer systems hacked by WannaCry hackers.

Approximately 20,000 hospital appointments have been canceled because the NHS has failed to provide basic security against cyber attackers. The NHS is thought to have cost 92 million to hack.

When the May 12 attack came, it was ripped apart by the unconventional defenses used by the NHS.

The virus spread via email, locking employees from their computers and demanding £ 230 to publish files on each employee’s account.

Doctors and nurses had to rely on pens and paper, and important equipment, such as MRI machines, became incapacitated.

About 20,000 medical appointments have been canceled, including 139 potential cancer referrals.

At the top of the crisis, five hospitals had to evacuate ambulances. Hospitals have been found to run older computer systems such as Windows XP and Windows 7 – which have not been updated to protect against such attacks. About 800 GPs have also been used in surgery.

Computer systems in 150 countries were attacked, which saw screens frozen with a warning that they would not be unlocked unless a ransom was paid.

Ransomware has been hacked at The Works just months after the country’s largest double glazing installer was attacked by a cyber attack.

Safestyle UK – known for promoting ‘buy one, you get one for free’ ad – is thought to have been targeted by hackers in January.

Suspected hackers from Russia stole the details of about 400,000 customers, sources said, and threatened to sell the data on the Dark Web if the firm did not transfer কার 4 million in cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

The Bradford-based company took part in its website and IT system offline after the incident.