Category: Ransomware
Acorn Stairlifts cyberattack
The recently reportedly Acorn Stairlifts cyberattack appears to have been an attempt to break into the company’s systems using malware, media reports confirm.
It is not yet known as to whether any information has been exposed or stolen, but the systems that were affected are understood to be back working again.
This is yet another cyberattack that has caused huge disruption, which is a growing trend and has been especially prevalent during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Property management firm data breach compensation claims
Whether it’s a local agency or a nationwide chain, many property management firms may be perceived as prime targets for data hackers. Any organisation that stores extensive customer information could be seen as an opportunity for cybercriminals, so the possibility of a property management firm data breach is something all companies must aim to prevent.
Unfortunately, despite the growing awareness of data security issues in the media and among the general public, many data controllers fail to observe the data protection regulations set out in the law. Even for businesses that possess large quantities of sensitive customer information, data protection negligence can be a problem.
If you have had your data exposed by a third party due to their failure to protect it, you may be entitled to claim compensation. In accordance with the law, everyone has a right to have the personal data they disclose to third-party companies kept safe, so contact us for advice if you think you may have a claim to make.
Ransomware affecting schools – spikes in attacks
In September 2020, the National Cyber Security Centre issued an alert, warning of increasing ransomware affecting schools, as well as colleges and universities. Earlier in 2021, the alert was updated to warn of yet another spike. The numerous headlines, especially over the summer, suggested that schools have been hit particularly hard, with successful attacks that can harm many people emerging on a regular basis.
Ransomware remains one of the most prominent cybersecurity threats faced by businesses and organisations in today’s digital age. Via ransomware, attackers could gain the power to take control of entire systems or networks. They could bring operations to a standstill, and could potentially steal swathes of private information. Where schools are concerned, ransomware can be particularly dangerous, as these organisations often hold a great deal of sensitive information relating to vulnerable children and young people.
As the ransomware threat shows no sign of abetting, it is essential that schools take action to improve their prevention and response methods, or they could be liable for the exposure of extensive personal data. Where a school has failed to protect the private details of you or your child, you could be eligible to pursue a data breach compensation claim now.
Healthcare network breaches
Healthcare has long been regarded as particularly vulnerable to external cyber threats. The potential vulnerability of healthcare organisations can be twofold: not only can their databases offer a wealth of highly sensitive data for cybercriminals to misuse, they have also been seen as weak in terms of their cybersecurity defences. Healthcare network breaches could occur when attackers exploit vulnerabilities in systems, finding a route via which to access private medical information.
All healthcare organisations must, therefore, be on their guard when it comes to potential cybersecurity threats, but this is not always the case. When cybercriminals do break through, the data theft can have catastrophic consequences for the affected patients or employees, potentially causing them significant distress and even financial loss.
If you have been affected by a medical data breach, you will likely feel let down by your healthcare provider’s failure to prevent the attack. Where the organisation failed to do enough to protect your information, you could be entitled to claim compensation. Contact us for further information and to find out whether you could be eligible for a data breach claim.
Stor-A-File cyberattack: information dumped on the dark web
It has been reported that the recent Stor-A-File cyberattack resulted in hackers demanding a ransom of three million pounds in Bitcoin which has reportedly been rejected, leading to data being exposed online.
Last week, we covered the issues facing the Lister Fertility Clinic who are understood to have written to some 1,700 patients over medical records that Stor-A-File had been providing scanning services for. With potentially sensitive medical information at stake, it had been feared that patients of the clinic could be vulnerable to their private and sensitive medical information being compromised.
Now, it has been reported that the worst looks to have happened and that private and sensitive data stolen in the attack has now been put onto the dark web.
Lister Fertility Clinic data breach: compensation action advice
It has been revealed that the Lister Fertility Clinic data breach may affect some 1,700 patients of the private clinic, and victims of the cyberattack will need to be wary.
If you have received confirmation from the clinic that you have been affected, you could be eligible to pursue a claim for data breach compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis. The leading team here at Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers – is happy to offer you free, no-obligation advice on a confidential basis now.
We are concerned that victims may end up being targeted by ransomware and scams, and it is important that those affected are protected as much as they can be.
Cybersecurity month 2021 – how we help the victims
As we mark Cybersecurity month 2021 this October, we will talk about how we can help the victims of data breaches, leaks and hacks, and the important work that we do to hold organisations to account for data protection and privacy failures.
Victims of a data breach can be eligible to claim data breach compensation. Depending on how you have been affected by a breach, you could be eligible to receive thousands of pounds in data breach damages.
When it comes to what we do, our experience speaks for itself. Read on for more information.
Push payment fraud arising from data breaches
In the wake of data breaches, the exposure of personal information can make victims vulnerable to becoming the targets of scammers and fraudsters. Compromised contact details or bank account information could be used by cybercriminals to extract further personal information and money from the victims that they target. Push payment fraud is among the various types of crimes that data breach victims could be targeted with.
When we disclose our data to third-party organisations, we do so in the belief that they will do their utmost to protect it. However, too many data controllers fail to recognise the importance of data protection and fail to comply with the law. Even the most basic of security errors could cause victims to have their information made vulnerable to misuse by cybercriminals.
If you have fallen prey to push payment fraud following a data breach, you may be able to claim compensation for your involvement, and for the emotional and/or financial impact of the incident. To find out more, contact us for free, no-obligation advice on your potential data breach claim.
Steris data breach
Steris, a provider of a variety of medical products and services, has reportedly been found to have been impacted by a data security incident. The Steris data breach is understood to have been part of a wider cybersecurity attack that first came to public attention in December 2020, when Accellion, a technology company, reportedly suffered a hack.
As one of the many companies that pays to use Accellion’s FTA (File Transfer Appliance) to transfer files, Steris had private information when the FTA server was breached by external hackers. The list of companies affected by the Accellion hack has grown and grown in the months following the data breach, in what has become a highly convoluted incident for the company.
The Accellion incident demonstrates how harmful data breaches can be when they affect businesses that provide services to other businesses, creating a domino effect of data breaches. With the threat of such wide-reaching damage, it is essential that all businesses take action to ensure that they deploy appropriate security and protect the personal information in their possession.
Rising healthcare cyberattacks
On top of the Covid-19 pandemic, healthcare organisations across the globe have also had to contend with rising healthcare cyberattacks since the outbreak began. Cybercriminals, perceiving that attention was diverted to managing the virus, have perhaps seen the pandemic as an opportunity to target hospitals and healthcare organisations under strain. The need for strong cybersecurity in the NHS has, therefore, never been more urgent.
Unfortunately, the NHS has not been known for good cybersecurity and data protection measures in the past, having suffered a number of severe cyberattacks and data breaches in recent years. One of the most infamous incidents was the WannaCry ransomware attack of 2017, where the NHS was said to be more susceptible to this attack due to a failure to follow cybersecurity recommendations.
Even within the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no excuse for poor data protection by healthcare organisations, and the government must step in where funding is an issue. It is vital that action is taken to tackle the short-term threat, as well as planning for the future of cyberattacks.