Council ransomware attacks legal advice

Council ransomware attacks are on the rise given that ransomware, in general, is a rising problem, with many hackers targeting the public sector. It’s important that victims know their rights when their information has been misused or exposed, and what we can do to help.

No one should suffer in silence when their privacy rights are violated. Organisations that store and process our data – including councils and local authority agencies – must do all they can to uphold data protection laws. When they fail to do this, victims can be entitled to make a claim for data breach compensation with us on a No Win, No Fee basis.

Here’s how we can help.

Claim compensation for council ransomware attacks

Victims of council ransomware attacks can be entitled to make a claim for data breach compensation when their personal information is misused or exposed.

If there was more that could, and should, have been done to safeguard data, victims can be entitled to make a legal case. We know that the public sector is an ongoing target for hackers because their systems aren’t always as robust as others, due to funding constraints. We saw in 2017 the power that malicious software can do when older and more outdated systems are targeted, with the huge WannaCry incident that crippled the NHS.

Councils and local authority agencies can also be a target because of the nature of the data that they store as well. One breach could lead to:

• Personal and contact data being exposed;
• Payment information and financial data exposed, used for council tax and benefits reasons;
• Medical and domestic data for social services and benefits reasons.

When you make a claim, you will often receive compensation for the distress caused by the loss of control of your personal information. In cases where data exposed is sensitive, the distress can be greater, which is how we work out data breach compensation amounts.

In council cases, the pay-outs can be high as the data involved can be more sensitive.

Teeside council ransomware attacks

There have been a few examples of successful council ransomware attacks, with a recent example being the Teesside incident.

Last month, it was reported that Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council was dealing with a sustained ransomware attack where criminals were demanding money to restore infected systems. The matter was reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and extensive work was carried out in order to try to restore their systems without paying a ransom.

As well as criminals demanding money to restore compromised systems, it’s not uncommon these days for them to threaten to leak sensitive data too. Organisations either pay up or face the repercussions of a serious council data breach incident.

Free, no-obligation advice

Anyone affected by council ransomware attacks can speak to our team, for free, no-obligation advice about their options for justice.

As a leading firm of data breach compensation lawyers, we can offer No Win, No Fee representation for claims that we take forward, and we may be able to help you too.

The office is normally open until 10pm on most weekdays and 9am to 5pm on most weekends as a part of our extended office opening hours. For ways to get in touch, please see our contact page.

Your Lawyers Virgin Media data breach compensation action in the news

Virgin Media data breach: am I affected?