Criminals target sensitive data for misuse

One of the main costs of a data breach at any organisation can be the risk it poses to the victims, who often become vulnerable to cybercrime. In today’s digital age, personal data is a valuable resource for those wishing to commit identity theft or fraud, meaning that many criminals target sensitive data when they hack or access company systems.

In the knowledge that their databases are prime targets for cybercriminals, organisations need to be aware of the risks that they can face and take action to prevent them. Although data protection is a legal requirement for any data controller, many still fail to take their duties seriously. As such, the risk when it comes to the data security of their members, customers and employees remains a problem.

We believe that the Virgin Media data breach is one such case of data protection negligence. The victims were unnecessarily exposed to potential cybercrime risks, meaning that they may be able to claim compensation from Virgin Media. If you were notified of your involvement in the data breach, you can sign up to claim via our online form here today.

What can happen when criminals target sensitive data?

When criminals target sensitive data held by third-party companies, they may be carrying out deliberate cyberattacks using malicious software, or they may simply be hunting for insecure systems to take advantage of them. In either case, it is often the poor cybersecurity of the organisation in question that can allow criminals to obtain access to private data.

After obtaining the sensitive data, criminals can misuse it in all kinds of ways, including:

• selling the data on for profit;
• holding the data for ransom;
• using the data for scams – for example, in phishing emails;
• using the data to carry out identity fraud.

The implications of the Virgin Media data breach

In the case of the Virgin Media data breach, the incorrect configuration of a marketing database left email addresses, postal addresses and phone numbers vulnerable to unauthorised access for a ten-month period. The 900,000 affected victims were, therefore, put at risk of fraudulent communication, whether this involved scam calls or phishing emails. In such scams, criminals can target sensitive data again, aiming to extract further personal information, such as bank account details, from their victims.

Making your compensation claim

The implications of the Virgin Media data breach must, therefore, not be underestimated. When criminals target sensitive data, they can cause untold financial and emotional damage, and the company responsible must be held to account for their failure to protect personal data.

The law enables data breach victims to claim not only for any financial losses and expenses incurred as a result of a data breach, but also for the distress that they have suffered from. To begin your Virgin Media claim, you can use our online form to start your legal case today.

As an expert consumer action law firm, we have years of experience in data breach claims and group action lawsuits, so we have the legal know-how that can help us bring Virgin Media claims to fruition. We anticipate that those eligible may be able to recover thousands of pounds in compensation and, as we are taking claims forward on a No Win, No Fee basis, what have you got to lose in making a claim?

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