There are differing levels in terms of severity of data leaks – it could be fair comment to say that a person’s full name being leaked is perhaps not as dangerous as a person’s bank account details being leaked. But it does depend on other factors, like whether a leak of a name is related to a sensitive subject; such as the full name of someone with a certain medical condition, as an example.<\/p>\n
If that happens then just a name can be very serious indeed, but in an age where leaks are happening around the world all of the time – and we literally mean, ALL of the time – we ask the question: is there really such thing as a “non-serious” data breach?
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\nAs I said in the opening of the blog it does depend on the nature of the information that has been leaked. If someone leaked the fact that I enjoy watching rugby, then I’m not particularly bothered; but if someone revealed that my name was on a medical list or perhaps a list of financial data then I might be more concerned…<\/p>\n
But the issue really is not so much about whether a data breach is “serious” or “non-serious” – because the fact it has happened in the first place should always ring alarm bells. That is what should always be taken in to account in our view.<\/p>\n
Taking a look at a recent example: a spreadsheet with the names and birth dates of hundreds of Northern Ireland Prison Service staff was mistakenly sent to an unintended recipient. The Northern Ireland Prison Service has labelled the breach as “not a serious security threat” which some of those involved have not been happy with.<\/p>\n