Welcome To The Data Leak Lawyers Blog

We focus on the latest news surrounding data breaches, leaks and hacks plus daily internet security articles.

Category: Security

data theft risks
June 09, 2021

Synthetic identity theft – data breach claims advice

Personal data is an incredibly valuable resource for cybercriminals who are developing increasingly sophisticated ways of stealing personal information and using it to commit fraud. Although many people may understand or have at least heard of identity theft, synthetic identity theft is a less familiar concept for many people. It is a risk that everyone should be aware of in our view, as it is one of the more sophisticated and evasive methods in the current cybercrime landscape.

Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers – as leading specialists in data protection claims, are always looking to raise awareness about data security issues and the potential cybercrime that can result from data breaches. If consumers remain unconscious of the risks and how they can happen, people may then be unaware of the right to make a claim if something does happen. To hold companies to account, we can bring compensation claims against them on behalf of data breach victims.

If you think you have been affected by a breach of data protection law, you can contact us for advice on your potential claim.

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council worker fined for sharing data information to social site
June 08, 2021

Workplace discrimination from a data breach

Whenever an employee joins a company, they are usually required to disclose a variety of personal details for the purposes of workplace records. In many cases, this data is taken for the employee’s safety, with details such as family contact numbers and health condition information allowing employers to act appropriately in the event of an emergency. However, holding such sensitive information can pose many risks to employees if it becomes exposed. In fact, if they have poor data protection measures, companies risk making their employees vulnerable to workplace discrimination from a data breach if something happens.

Employers have a legal obligation to protect the information of their employees, so they can be held liable when a data breach does occur. We aim to bring victims of data breaches the justice they deserve, so contact us for advice if your personal information has been exposed in your place of work.

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healthcare data breaches caused by human error nhs staff medical record breaches
June 07, 2021

Healthcare breaches in 2020 – compensation claims advice

With so many NHS employees and resources devoted to suppressing the spread of Covid-19, data security concerns have inadvertently been pushed to one side by healthcare organisations in 2020 in some cases.

It is believed that cybercriminals took advantage of this gap in data protection by launching more attacks on hospitals and other public health organisations. Meanwhile, human error has continued to be a contributing factor, causing several notable healthcare breaches in 2020 also.

The coronavirus pandemic has undoubtedly laid bare the security risks faced by healthcare organisations. Though cyberattack attempts have likely increased during the Covid-19 crisis, healthcare organisations have always been prime targets for cybercriminals, given the sensitivity of the information they hold. As such, the same risks will confront them in the years to come if changes are not made.

We have witnessed first-hand the damage that can be caused by data breaches in our support for the victims. Anyone who has suffered the effects of healthcare data breaches, or any other kind of data breach, may be able to claim compensation for the harm caused.

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June 04, 2021

Data snooping attacks

Data snooping attacks can represent one of the many methods that cybercriminals use to steal private information. Snooping methods are commonly used to steal data from insecure networks and other systems. Sometimes, data snooping is even used by well-known companies seeking to extract information relating to their users.

In the digital age, personal data is a valuable commodity, such that there is a large underground network of hackers and fraudsters who aggregate data for malicious purposes. With the risks growing and growing, third-party organisations must aim to safeguard the information that is under their protection.

In fact, all UK data controllers are legally bound to comply with the rules of the GDPR, meaning that they can be held liable when a data breach occurs. If you have been affected by a data breach, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Any victims can contact us for free, no-obligation advice about their potential claims.

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local authority data breaches local authority data leak
June 02, 2021

Council payment data breaches

Councils are often in possession of extensive personal information pertaining to their employees and their residents. Often, councils keep sensitive information belonging to residents in receipt of benefit payments, or to those who have made payments to them, whether this is for a parking fine or for council tax. Council payment data breaches can arise when any information relating to payments to or from residents is exposed.

The wealth of information available at councils can make them prime targets for hackers, but it also means that any human error data breaches caused by employees can have severe implications. For the victims, data exposure can provoke an emotional and financial impact, which is why we help those affected to claim compensation for the harm caused to them.

Each and every third-party data controller has a duty to protect the data entrusted to their care, and they can be held accountable under the law when this duty is neglected. Your Lawyers, as leading data protection lawyers,  know what it takes to hold organisations to justice.

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fraud from cyberattacks hotel data breaches
June 01, 2021

Scammers claiming to work for Virgin Media – breach victims to be wary

Scammers claiming to work for Virgin Media have been reportedly contacting elderly residents in more than one location in the UK. With cybercrime at a peak due to the coronavirus pandemic, these phone scams are just one example among many methods used by fraudsters in an attempt to extract personal data, particularly financial details.

There is no evidence to suggest that the scammers are linked to the Virgin Media data breach of last March, which saw the personal data of 900,000 UK residents become exposed due to the failure to secure a company database. However, many data breach victims do suffer attacks from scammers and fraudsters who, equipped with their personal data, can trick their targets into thinking that they are honest representatives of reputable companies. This is why we feel it is important to cover this issue in the context of the data breach that we represent people for.

As leading data breach specialists, we represent victims of data breaches to recover the compensation they deserve. When it comes to data protection, carelessness is unacceptable given the harmful risks it exposes victims to, so contact us if you think you may have a compensation claim to make.

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cyber attack
May 26, 2021

Printer hacks – a less talked-about data security issue

When imagining a data breach in the workplace, our minds often go to database hacks or malicious cyberattacks. However, the risks of printers are not always considered. In fact, printer hacks can sometimes be just as dangerous, acting as a route into the wider company network.

The lack of awareness surrounding such risks can demonstrate that there is often poor education about data protection at many companies. Ensuring good data protection is not simply a case of implementing firewalls or antivirus software. It is also vital that employees follow strict procedures and are aware of what good practice is.

When a third-party organisation fails to protect your personal information, they may have breached data protection law. Where this is the case, you may be able to make a claim in order to be compensated for the damage caused. As leading specialists in data protection law, we help those affected by data breaches to access the justice they deserve.

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cybersecurity issues
May 24, 2021

May 2021- the third anniversary of the GDPR

As we reach the third anniversary of the GDPR this May, it is important to evaluate the impact the law has had on data security.

While the General Data Protection Regulation produced an important, necessary update to the UK’s decades-old Data Protection Act (1998), data breaches show no sign of abetting. It still appears that many businesses may still be failing to comply with the law today.

Taking account of the changes of the digital age, in which consumers regularly share data with third parties online, the GDPR obliges businesses to ensure that they protect personal data with appropriate technical and organisational methods. When they fail in this responsibility, they could face enforcement action from the Information Commissioner’s Office, the regulator responsible for monitoring compliance with the GDPR in the UK.

Moreover, the GDPR can also enable victims of data protection breaches to claim compensation for the harm caused. If you have been affected by a data breach incident, you may be within your rights to make a claim, and we have the expertise to advise you and lead your claim to fruition.

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affected by a cyberattack
May 21, 2021

Malicious cyberattacks and their repercussions

As cybercriminals develop their skills and tools, we see increasingly sophisticated and malicious cyberattacks, many of which can cause adverse consequences for the victims. Cybercrime may well have been strengthened by the coronavirus pandemic, so the risk to personal information is at a high point.

For cybercriminals, the most effective cyberattacks are often those which are highly manipulative, backing their victims into a corner and leaving them defenceless. These cyberattacks can be capable of causing immense distress to the victims, which can last for months or even years after the breach.

However, cybercriminals are not the only threat to personal data. Many companies fail to implement adequate cybersecurity measures, leaving the information in their possession in a more vulnerable position. If a third-party organisation has failed to protect your data, they may be liable to pay compensation. No one should feel forced to accept a data breach, so contact us for advice if you think you may have a compensation claim to make.

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rail passenger data accessible online
May 19, 2021

Unsecured servers and databases – rail passenger data accessible online

Many data breaches occur not because of sophisticated hacks, but because of failures in cybersecurity defences. In such cases, the blame can primarily fall on the head of the data controller, who may have failed in their duty to protect personal information. For example, a potential data breach arose when a configuration issue in the systems of Network Rail left rail passenger data accessible online.

The error is one many companies cite when a data breach occurs, and one which can be indicative of systematic failings within an organisation. It often only takes one mistake or flaw to make a substantial hole in an organisation’s cybersecurity defences. As good cybersecurity is a key tenet of data protection law, data controllers with weak or faulty cybersecurity can be found in breach of the GDPR. The wider defences are only as good as the weakest link.

Where the GDPR is breached, those affected by the exposure of their information may be eligible to make a compensation claim. At Your Lawyers (T/A The Data Leak Lawyers), we represent data breach victims as a leading data breach claims law firm to fight for the justice that they deserve.

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