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

Tag: healthcare sector

Nursing Home data breaches
July 06, 2021

Coronavirus test result data breach

A woman has recently reported receiving the coronavirus test result of another unknown woman, reportedly sent in a text message by the NHS. Not only did the text reveal the negative test status of the unknown woman, it is understood that it also listed her full name, birth date and the result of her test. The recipient of the message has expressed concern that such a data breach was allowed to occur, particularly given that she took a coronavirus test in early January.

Concerns about data privacy have been linked to the Test and Trace system since its beginnings, with several data breach incidents linked to the scheme, including a major error by Public Health Wales. It is concerning that data privacy has fallen short on occasions in the effort to control the Covid-19 outbreak, especially given that mistakes such as misdirected texts can be so easily avoided.

The Test and Trace system may be designed to protect public health, but that does not mean data breaches like this can go unnoticed.

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medical test results
June 15, 2021

Hospitals and healthcare sector data breaches

Hospitals and doctors’ surgeries host visits from large numbers of patients every day, and are treated as places of safety and refuge for those with health issues. Unfortunately, despite the fact that patient-doctor confidentiality is a principle at the heart of the medical profession, some hospitals and healthcare sector organisations are letting down the patients who trust them by failing to protect private data.

We constantly hear how much strain the NHS is under, but the lack of resources and staff is not often seen from the perspective of cybersecurity and data protection. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, NHS staff were put under even greater pressure to meet the demands of controlling the virus and, in some cases, data protection has been further neglected.

It is essential that healthcare organisations see data protection as a high priority, or they risk exposing patient data, as has already been the case in many previous healthcare data breaches. Whether it is a case of government funding or internal organisational issues, all healthcare organisations must step up and meet the challenge of the ongoing, and increasing, cybersecurity risks that they face.

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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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healthcare data breaches
May 31, 2021

The health data breach threat

A health data breach can have substantial repercussions, both for the healthcare organisation involved and the victims affected. As human error mistakes continue to be made internally, the external cybersecurity threat for healthcare organisations has been reported to be on the rise, meaning that there is immense pressure for these organisations to step up their data protection policies.

The sophistication of modern-day cybercrime simply allows no room for error when it comes to data protection. Unfortunately, as leading specialists in data breach law, we see the same mistakes being made time and time again, which is why we believe it is important to hold organisations to account when they fail to protect personal data.

If you have been caused distress or loss by a health data breach, do not hesitate to contact us for advice on your potential claim.

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hospital ransomware attacks
May 25, 2021

Data breaches by hospitals

The duty of patient confidentiality is a tenet of medical practice, meaning that all doctors must keep patient information private as a matter of professional duty. Unfortunately, data breaches by hospitals undermine this key responsibility, often through simple administrative errors or data handling mistakes.

However minor the initial misstep is, the repercussions can still be severe when patient or employee data is exposed, which is why healthcare organisations must be held accountable for breaches of data protection law. We know the stress and anxiety data breach victims can suffer, which is why we work hard to claim compensation on behalf of those affected. Although a compensation pay-out cannot undo the harm inflicted on victims, it can help them to know that justice has been done.

Data breach compensation amounts for these kinds of cases can be high given the severity of the impact.

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breaches in the healthcare sector
May 17, 2021

Healthcare data breach spikes during COVID-19 pandemic

As governments and healthcare organisations strive to suppress COVID-19, the main numbers being counted are those of transmission rates. At the same time, data breach incidents may be rising in number without the attention their severity merits as well. In mid-2020, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and its American counterpart, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), warned of the dangers of cyberattacks hitting healthcare organisations during the pandemic, given the immense strain which was already stretching their time and resources. With coronavirus prioritised, it may be that only time will tell what the true cost of these healthcare data breach spikes will be.

Through the data breach incidents of the past few years, many healthcare organisations have shown that they are poorly equipped to protect personal data. Whether the data breach consists of an accidental email or a large-scale cyberattack, the effects can be severe for the victims, and may put the organisation involved in breach of the law.

As leading specialists in data breach law, we help victims to claim compensation when their right to proper data protection has been breached. Contact us for free, no-obligation advice if you think you may have a claim.

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May 12, 2021

Confidential medical records on the dark web

Containing some of the most sensitive information we may ever disclose to a third party, our medical records require substantial protection, as all personal data does. Unfortunately, health organisations can be prime targets for hackers because of the value of this sensitive data, a problem that is often exacerbated by the failure of these organisations to implement sufficient cybersecurity methods. As a result, cybercriminals may be circulating countless medical records on the dark web, and victims need to know what to do.

If a third-party organisation fails to protect your personal data, in can be very difficult to prevent yourself from being exposed to the dangers of cybercrime. Because a data breach can come with a significant financial and emotional cost, the law can entitle you to claim compensation for the harm caused.

As leading, specialists in data breach law, we aim to help all victims who come to us to achieve the justice they deserve where we can. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries about making a data breach claim.

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impact of a council cyberattack
April 16, 2021

Ransomware healthcare attacks

The 2020 surge in ransomware healthcare attacks has highlighted how healthcare organisations have become more vulnerable to cyberattacks during the coronavirus pandemic. While many of us have turned to remote working over the past year, ransomware has long been a remote access tool for cybercriminals, allowing them to breach systems and take control of computer servers and machines from anywhere in the world.

In the UK, we constantly hear that our health service is constrained by limited resources, but few stop to consider the impact that this has on data privacy. Faced with outdated hardware and cybersecurity software in some cases, healthcare organisations could have poor defences against cyberattacks. They can, therefore, be risking the exposure of patient and employee data on a daily basis.

Every UK citizen has a right to have their personal information kept safe and secure by third-party organisations. This could mean that you may be entitled to claim compensation in the event that your data has been exposed. For free, no-obligation advice, contact us today to talk to a member of our specialist data breach team.

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fake coronavirus vaccine
March 05, 2021

Beware of the fake coronavirus vaccine text scam

One of the latest data scams to take advantage of the coronavirus pandemic are fake coronavirus vaccine texts circulating with the goal of tricking people into making a payment for a jab.

Claiming to be from the NHS, senders have been using a tried-and-tested scam method as they ask for the input of bank account details. Fraud through text or email scams is still all too common, even though the method is relatively easy for scammers. It shows just how much damage can be done with access to an email address or phone number, which are exactly the kinds of details which are often exposed in data breaches.

At Your Lawyers – The Data Leak Lawyers – we are a leading firm that represent many clients who have fallen victim to fraud as a result of having their data exposed by a third-party business or organisation.

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cosmetic institute website breach
February 23, 2021

Cosmetic surgery data breach compensation advice

The decision to have cosmetic surgery is often something that people prefer to keep private, sometimes due to the stigma around enhancing or altering physical appearance. However, as cosmetic surgery becomes more affordable, and the types of treatments become more varied, large amounts of client information means that a cosmetic surgery data breach can represent a tempting opportunity for hackers.

The sensitivity of the information held by cosmetic clinics undoubtedly incentivises cybercriminals who are looking to misuse data for blackmail. They may believe that victims are more likely to give in to their demands to avoid any potential embarrassment from information exposure. We know how scary and precarious this situation can be, so we are able to help eligible victims to claim compensation for the exposure of cosmetic surgery data.

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