Cyberattack fears hit UK consumers' e-shopping sentiment

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
August 20, 2025

After some well-publicised cyberattacks on retailers, there’s a shift in online shopping behaviour happening, particularly among younger consumers in the UK. 

A third (33.5%) of 16-34 year-olds are considering cutting back or stopping online purchases, so retailers are facing rising pressure “to reinforce digital trust”, according to GlobalData.

Further, virtually the same number of 25-34 year-olds feel the same way followed by 35-44 year-olds (35%); 45-54 year-olds (15%); 55-64 year-olds (10.8%) and 65+ (10.6%).

These concerns are more acute for online pureplays, which cannot redirect sceptical consumers to stores, according to the data and analytics company.

Elsewhere, consumers who are worried about their personal security as a result of recent attacks obviously show a series of high numbers:  25-34 year-olds the most concerned (79.3%) to 65+ not far behind at 66.6% with the rest in between.

But will this fear dent online’s ongoing growth? Emily Salter, lead retail analyst at GlobalData, isn’t convinced it will for some demographic groups. 

“The convenience and choice associated with the online channel will still trump security concerns for most consumers,” she said. “This is potentially more important to older shoppers who have children and greater pressures on their time, or less ability to visit stores as they age.” 

But she thinks younger shoppers place more emphasis on experiential shopping and “combined with security concerns could push more consumers to stores”.

As well as the immediate impact on sales and profits, which could be due to stock issues or having to shut down a website, the press coverage of cyberattacks, the report said the problems raise a more long-term issue of consumer trust in retailers’ online platforms.

Salter concluded: “Younger consumers are more concerned about retailers storing their payment details, and think that they are not doing enough to protect their private information when shopping online. Paying with mobile wallets and third-party providers such as Apple Pay and PayPal is a way that consumers can avoid having to give their payment details directly to retailers. These payment methods are especially popular among under 35s. To allow this, retailers must ensure their websites and apps are compatible with these methods.”