Pension scheme data breach numbers soar
According to recent research, pension scheme data breach numbers have seen a significant increase in the past year or so. A study by Sackers, a specialist pension law firm, has reportedly highlighted fundamental data security issues in the industry, as the survey of businesses reportedly found that some 35% of trustees and employers had reported data breaches to their pension schemes.
The study comes not so long after the Now: Pensions data breach was revealed to the public at the end of 2020, which involved the exposure of approximately 30,000 customers’ private information. This is an action that we represent victims for on a No Win, No Fee basis.
The results of the study may lead to some much greater scrutiny of the pensions industry, and companies may need to reconsider their approach to data protection going forward. Our team here at Your Lawyers, as leading, specialist data breach lawyers, is concerned to see these figures.
Public Health England data breach concerns and what to do
With the cyber threat facing healthcare organisations across the globe and on a domestic level at a high, a significant Public Health England data breach could easily happen. With cybersecurity and data protection under such scrutiny, it is natural that doubts have been cast over all kinds of data controllers in the healthcare sector.
The spike in cyberattacks on the healthcare sector has been a much-reported issue over the past year or so, with a perception that cybercriminals have sought to take advantage of the chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, it is also true that a vast number of data breaches within the healthcare sector are caused by human error, so healthcare organisations must focus on internal training to ensure that they keep information secure.
If you have been affected by a healthcare data breach, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the harm caused. At Your Lawyers – the Data Leak Lawyers – as leading privacy claims experts, we have years of experience in data breach claims, and we can use our expertise to help you achieve the justice you deserve.
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.
Catastrophic data breach claims
Many of the data breach victims that we represent suffer the harmful consequences of privacy incidents. Victims are often affected by distress, as well as being targets for scammers and fraudsters seeking to capitalise on the exposure of private information. Unfortunately, there can be even more damaging effects to data breaches, particularly those that affect highly sensitive information. For those who have suffered from a catastrophic data breach, compensation claims can allow victims to recover compensation for the harm caused.
Your Lawyers, as leading specialists in data breach claims, have seen how profoundly information exposure can affect the lives and well-being of our clients. In our view, it is unacceptable that such suffering should be caused by organisations failing to comply with data protection laws. We have dedicated ourselves to helping data breach victims assert their rights since 2014, so we have the experience to help you claim the compensation you deserve.
IT security company data breach
In the modern digital world, it is rare that companies rely solely on their own internal IT capabilities to operate their computers and networks, instead engaging the services of IT companies to help them set up effective digital systems and often to provide good security for these systems. Even companies hired for the specific purpose of cybersecurity can neglect vulnerabilities. If this happens, an IT security company data breach may occur.
The element of third-party security risks can be one that companies overlook, but no data controller can evade its ultimate responsibility for a data breach. Whether the incident occurred due to a third-party provider or the company itself, those affected by data breaches could be eligible to claim compensation for any harm caused.
Pension plan data breaches
Whether you have sought out your own pension plan or you have been automatically registered on one by your employer, a significant portion of the working population is contributing to a pension plan. Pensions are perhaps not something we often think about in terms of a data security risk, but pension plan data breaches are capable of causing significant damage to those affected.
In fact, employers and pension providers often have to process and hold a variety of different details about employees meaning that, if such information is compromised, it can constitute a significant breach of the victims’ data privacy. Where pension companies or employers have failed to protect pension data, they may be liable to issue compensation pay-outs to those affected.
At Your Lawyers – the Data Leak Lawyers – as leading privacy claims experts we have been representing clients for data matters since 2014. Our experience in data breach claims means that we are well equipped to hold data controllers accountable for their negligence. We believe there is still too much complacency surrounding the importance of data protection, which is why we support data breach victims to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve.
Charing Cross Gender Clinic data leak – still time to claim
We are now two years on from the revelation about the serious Charing Cross Gender Clinic data leak, and we continue to represent victims for compensation claims.
Although our action is now at an advanced stage, given how long ago the email data breaches took place, do not worry if you have yet to start a claim – there is still time. However, we just strongly urge anyone affected to start their claim as a matter of urgency to avoid missing out on the three-year rule for claiming personal injury damages in a data breach compensation case. For anyone who has suffered significantly, which we understand given the nature of the breaches, higher-level awards can be caught by the personal injury time limits. Generally speaking, you must have either settled a legal case or issued legal proceedings before the deadline expires, so there really isn’t much time left at all.
Make sure you sign-up to join the legal action and avoid missing out on the chance to claim damages as a victim of this serious and sensitive leak of personal information
British Airways group action claim – still time to join
As we mark the third anniversary of the news of the BA cyberattacks emerging in 2018, there is still time to pursue your British Airways group action claim with Your Lawyers.
Although a separate group to ours has settled some claims, we are still pursuing our claims as we fight for a fair settlement for those who have been affected by the serious cyberattacks that took place in 2018. Three years on, the legal fight for justice continues, and you still have time to claim.
We continue to pursue claims for victims on a No Win, No Fee basis. You can sign up to join the British Airways Group Action on the dedicated website here.
Retail data breaches
Even before the popularity of online shopping, it was possible for customers to fall victim to data misuse, with criminals carrying out hacks of card machines to gain access to payment details. Now, with online shopping on a constant upturn, many of us share our personal information with third-party companies on a regular basis online. If these companies fail to protect our information, we can fall prey to retail data breaches.
In fact, because of the wealth of card data held by retailers, they are a prime target for cybercriminals. Online retailers were arguably put at an increased risk during the past year’s lockdown periods, during which many people turned to online shopping to make their purchases, a fact that fraudsters were all too aware of.
Regardless of the potential increase in cybercrime, the data controllers themselves can bear the responsibility when a data breach does occur. Retailers have a legal obligation to protect personal information, and when they fail in this duty, they could be liable to pay thousands of pounds in compensation when victims make a data breach claim.
Healthcare data breaches and Covid
The link between healthcare data breaches and Covid has been well-documented, with various studies and reports suggesting that breaches have been on the rise worldwide since 2020. With hospitals already under immense strain, it is unsurprising that they have become more vulnerable to cyberattacks, in addition to the usual internal errors and leaks and breaches that can take place.
While data security may have become somewhat of a peripheral concern during the coronavirus pandemic, it needs to be brought front and centre if the problem is to be tackled, and if data controllers are to prevent the problem from being exploited by criminals. In the past, data breaches have often highlighted the lacklustre approach to data protection at many healthcare organisations, where there can sometimes be a lack of cybersecurity resources and expertise.
But these shortages cannot be an excuse. If you have been affected by a healthcare data breach since the start of the pandemic, you could be eligible to claim compensation for any harm caused. There is no reason for you not to seek justice when you have been harmed. As such, you can contact us for free, no-obligation advice if you think you may have a claim to make.