The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) is urging independent retailers and small businesses to check their website security following a warning about two serious vulnerabilities affecting PHP, a technology used by a large proportion of websites
Bira, which represents more than 6,000 independent retailers across the UK, is advising businesses to contact their web developer or hosting provider as a priority to confirm that their websites are running a secure, supported version of PHP.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “This is a serious warning and one that independent retailers should not ignore.”
He highlighted the reliance many small businesses place on their websites to process orders, display stock and communicate with customers, warning that businesses of every size can be targeted by cyber criminals.
Goodacre advised retailers to ask their web developer or hosting provider to confirm that the necessary updates have been applied and to arrange an upgrade if their site relies on an unsupported version.
Bira has previously addressed the issue of cyber security through its High Street Matters podcast episode, No Business Too Small – Protecting Independent Retailers from Cyber Crime. The episode features Goodacre, retail technology expert Melissa Minkow of CI&T and Bira member Andrew Maben of Kevin’s Schoolwear, who shares his experience of a cyber attack.
Retailers can find further practical advice through Bira’s online cyber security resources and guidance from the NCSC at www.ncsc.gov.uk
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