Welcome To The Data Leak Lawyers Blog

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

cyberattack compensation
March 13, 2019

The risks of reusing passwords

Thousands of people have contacted us for help with data breach claims. Victims can be entitled to make a claim for compensation. The risks of reusing passwords is one of the first things people may need to consider.

The advice is to never reuse the same passwords and user credentials across different platforms. Despite this, people still do it. It means that being the victim of one simple breach could lead to several accounts being accessed. In fact, it could even mean those credentials are used to hack into a business you are employed with.

There’s a great deal that many people may not consider when it comes to reusing passwords and usernames. The mindset needs to change!

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letter is sent to the wrong address
March 12, 2019

Another Wokingham Borough Council data breach

There has been another Wokingham Borough Council data breach that comes just weeks after the ongoing news covering the serious sex abuse victim data leak.

In this latest breach, a resident’s benefit payment information has reportedly been leaked by accident in the post. It appears that it’s another case of human error.

What’s just as worrying is that a recent report appears to have identified that the council has suffered five data breaches in the last year. This latest incident has also hit the news just after the recent apologies over the serious sexual abuse victim breach we previously covered.

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By Author
new report uncovers councils lack of cybersecurity systems
March 11, 2019

NHS fax data breach issue uncovered

An issue that has led to a number of NHS fax data breach incidents has been reported, after mix-ups with a similar fax number has led to information going astray.

NHS data breach compensation cases are some of the more common types of claims our expert team help people with. A lot of the data breaches are caused by such simple errors that can be easily avoided. Despite this, they happen way too frequently.

The news of the fax mix ups is another example of this and comes to light after the accidental recipients of the data contacted NHS England about the incidents.

About the NHS fax data breach issues

The NHS fax data breach issue reportedly stems from GP surgeries and pharmacies accidentally sending data to the wrong number. The number they have been sending information to in some cases belongs to a hotel group who has then been receiving the faxes incorrectly.

Some of the data that has been sent to the wrong fax number includes medication requests, certificates and dispensing vouchers.

It’s understood that the fax number for the hotel group is similar to the ones used to send information within the healthcare system. The hotel group has notified the Corporate Information Governance Team for NHS England.

What’s being done about the NHS fax data breach issue?

As a result of these NHS fax data breach issues, NHS England has reportedly reminded GP surgeries and pharmacies about the importance of checking numbers. As some have recently called for a move away from faxes and pagers within the NHS, it’s claimed that this fax system is apparently the only way of sending this data within the healthcare system.

It sounds like something needs to change.

Any medical data breach can cause a huge amount of distress to the victims. When we see these simple errors over incredibly personal and sensitive data, it’s clear to us that more needs to be done.

As a firm of lawyers who specialise in data leak cases, we know how bad a breach can be for the victim.  It’s important for these simple and avoidable data breaches are stamped out.

By Author
March 08, 2019

Latest in the Marriott data leak

We can help you make a claim for compensation as a victim of the massive Marriott data leak. Here’s a little about the latest since news broke of the incident.

OK, so we have some 500 million customers across the world who are potentially affected by the leak. The leak stems from a breach of their Starwood reservation systems since 2014 and has resulted in a wealth of data being exposed. As well as personal information, account details and bank card information has also been exposed.

Marriott has taken a number of steps in the aftermath of the breach, and legal actions have been initiated.

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By Author
dating
March 07, 2019

Coffee Meets Bagel data breach revealed on Valentine’s Day

The Coffee Meets Bagel data breach was unfortunately revealed on Valentine’s Day. I.e. a dating app revealed a breach on the day of love and romance…

With the data breach reportedly having happened on 11th February 2019, I suppose its just a case of bad timing that notifications ended up being on Valentine’s Day. Either way, the American-based dating service that is used in the UK has suffered a breach.

This isn’t the first dating website that has been targeted for a data breach. We doubt it will be the last as well.

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email breach
March 06, 2019

Warnings after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council data breach

Warnings have been issued over a 2017 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council data breach incident that was said to have been particularly sensitive.

The warnings have come from both the authority itself as well as the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The incident took place before the introduction of last year’s vital GDPR. The incident still amounted to a serious data protection breach and could have led to criminal prosecutions and huge fines faced by the council.

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By Author
hospital ransomware attacks
March 05, 2019

Serious Stafford Hospital data breach

A serious Stafford Hospital data breach has been reported, and it’s another simple and avoidable error that has led to private and sensitive data being leaked.

Our lawyers represent a lot of people who are claiming NHS data breach compensation. The reason for this is that healthcare data leaks and breaches can be incredibly common. A lot of the breaches happen so easily, and are totally avoidable. Despite this, healthcare data breaches continue to happen at alarming rates.

The recent Stafford Hospital data breach incident is a story that’s all too familiar for our team here who are helping victims claim for incidents just like it.

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camera photography
March 04, 2019

Huge 500px data breach

There’s been another huge security incident announced. This time it’s the 500px data breach that may have affected all 15 million of its worldwide users.

The Canada-based online photography networking platform (that also has an app) is understood to have identified security issue last year. However, it’s taken some six months for the organisation to discover that they’ve been breached.

The length of time that’s passed is particularly worrying. It means that victims of the 500px data breach may have already been targeted by criminals. Victims may have had no idea that their data had been exposed given that news of the breach has only just hit the headlines.

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compensation advice for hospital data breaches
March 01, 2019

U-turn in Worcester GP data breach case

NHS England has ruled in an investigation into a Worcester GP data breach after previous findings suggested that the law had not been broken.

In this unusual case, the Severn Valley Medical Practice reportedly posted information online about a patient. Initially, the Practice is understood to have disputed that any data protection breach had occurred. Since then, NHS England and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) both agree that the incident was a failure to comply with data protection obligations.

Another element that makes this case unusual is about allegations made surrounding the Data Protection Officer (DPO) who reportedly claimed there wasn’t a breach in the first place.

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coronavirus contact tracing data app data breach risks
February 28, 2019

Is your phone recording you?

The typical answer as to the popular question “is your phone recording you?” is often “no”, according to many. However, you may not be aware that some things can be recorded, and you may not be aware of it.

According to a recent investigation by TechCrunch and The App Analyst, some popular apps may be recording user data without proper – or more explicit – permission or understanding. The investigation reportedly looked at a range of apps and found ways in which the companies or the developers could record and store data they may not have permission for.

That’s worrying; especially in the era of continual breaches linked to apps, and ongoing concerns as to how much the likes of Siri or Alexa are taking in when they’re waiting for our commands…

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