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The email confirmed that M&S was hacked by the ransomware group – something that the retailer has so far refused to acknowledge.

The email confirms for the first time that M&S has been hacked by the ransomware group – something that M&S has so far refused to acknowledge.

The cyber criminals who say they were responsible told the BBC that they targeted the firms with ransomware, which involves scrambling IT systems and telling companies they will only be restored in exchange for payment.

Cyber criminals have stolen "personal or sensitive" data during a ransomware attack on West Lothian Council's education network, the local authority has confirmed.

The ransomware attack is thought to have been the work of a loose collective of online actors known as Scattered Spider, using illicit tools from the cyber-crime service DragonForce.