Category: Technology
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.
GoDaddy cyber hack: another big company hit
The recently announced GoDaddy cyber hack is another example of a big company being hit by a cyberattack that has resulted in the information for over a million people being exposed.
Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting large platforms like GoDaddy where they can hope to steal swathes of personal information that they could then misuse to commit fraud and theft. Even a little information can go a long way, and the risks for the victims could be significant.
Your Lawyers, as leading Data Leak Lawyers, have been fighting for the rights of privacy breach victims for years, representing thousands of clients in England and Wales. We know how bad people can suffer due to these types of attacks, and we are here to help.
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.
Cyberattacks in the manufacturing sector
A recent report on cybersecurity threats has indicated that cyberattacks in the manufacturing sector may be on the rise. According to the NTT Global Threat Intelligence Report, attacks on this industry rose by as much as 300% in 2020, with hackers reportedly taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic and increased remote working.
With such a significant rise in cyberattacks, this issue undoubtedly raises questions regarding how safely manufacturing companies are protecting private data, whether it relates to their clients, partners or employees. If companies are not imposing sufficient data protection measures or do not have adequate cybersecurity defences, they may be putting private information at risk.
Your Lawyers, as leading specialists in data protection compensation claims, are incredibly concerned about the potential human impact of manufacturing cyberattacks. We want to make sure that any victims of data breaches in this sector understand about their eligibility to claim. If you have had your data privacy compromised by a breach incident, you may be able to recover compensation for the harm caused. Always make sure to contact us for free, no-obligation advice regarding your case.
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.
Oxford City Council data breach concerns
Oxford City Council issued an apology over a possible data breach that the local authority may have caused. It is said that a computer error may have exposed information contained in rent statements.
Following news coverage from The Oxford Mail, the exact nature of this security incident and its impact has been unclear. It was not decisively identified as a data breach, but incidents such as this nevertheless highlight the damage that can be brought about by unintentional data protection errors. Even where the data controller has not broken data protection law, it is important to flag potential negligence to ensure that it is thoroughly investigated.
As a victim of an information security incident, it can often be difficult to tell whether or not an organisation has breached your rights under data protection and privacy law. This is why it is important to seek legal advice if you have reason to believe that your personal information has been compromised. At Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers- as leading data compensation claims experts, we can offer potential data breach victims free, no-obligation advice on their eligibility for a compensation claim.
What to do after a cyberattack – compensation claims advice
When a cyberattack occurs, the response effort is extremely important in determining how far the collateral damage may extend. Data controllers who have succumbed to hacks have an important responsibility to face up to any mistakes made and repair vulnerabilities as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the attacked companies themselves cannot always be relied upon to respond quickly and effectively, which is why victims need to know what to do after a cyberattack. And this is where we can come in as data claims lawyers.
From ransomware to phishing scams, cyberattacks can come in many different forms, and data controllers are obliged by law to manage these threats with appropriate cybersecurity defences and response plans. Non-compliance with the law could be costly for victims, causing their information to fall into the hands of malicious cybercriminals.
At Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers – as leading privacy claims experts, we have honed our expertise in data breach claims over a number of years, making us a leading UK law firm in data protection law. Our specialism allows us to help victims of a wide range of data breach incidents to claim the compensation they deserve.
Hospital data snooping – when staff access private data without consent
As patients, we trust that our data is held securely by healthcare organisations, and that medical professionals will only access and use our information when absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, hospital data snooping does occur, as some healthcare staff view patient information without authorisation or consent.
Whether intentional or unintentional, data snooping is a practice that all healthcare staff must steer clear of, particularly due to the sensitivity of medical records. It is understandably worrying for victims to learn that their information has been subjected to unauthorised access, as there could be malicious intent behind the user’s actions. When healthcare staff abuse or take advantage of their data access privileges in this way, it can constitute a breach of data protection law.
If you believe that your privacy has been violated in this way, you could be eligible to claim compensation for the harm caused. Contact us for free, no-obligation advice now if you think you may have a claim to make.
Health data breaches and claiming compensation
The healthcare sector has long been a target for cyberattacks, and this threat can be compounded by the often-poor cybersecurity adopted by some hospitals and doctors’ practices, as well as employee errors that have brought about a number of data breaches in recent years. Health data breaches can be particularly harmful to those affected, as the personal information and medical records held by healthcare providers can, understandably, be intensely private to patients.
The problem of health data breaches appears to have exacerbated further over the past year or so. The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted a surge in cyberattacks across all kinds of organisations, but healthcare has been seen as a particularly vulnerable sector due to the increased strain brought by managing coronavirus.
Regardless of the circumstances in which a data breach occurs, there is never any excuse for healthcare organisations that have failed to protect patient and employee data. If held to account in a data breach claim, these organisations could be forced to pay out compensation to the affected victims. If you have been affected by a data breach incident and wish to seek justice, do not hesitate to contact us for free, no-obligation advice.