Data snooping attacks

Data snooping attacks can be where information is exposed which allows cybercriminals to access, see, and potentially misuse the information in question.

In the Virgin Media data incident, an error led to the information of some 900,000 people being left exposed and easy to snoop on. In fact, investigations confirmed that an unknown third party, unfortunately, did access the exposed information.

If you have yet to start your No Win, No Fee claim for compensation as a victim of the Virgin Media data leak, find out if you are still in time to do so by completing a few forms on our website here now.

Risks of data snooping attacks

There can be considerable risks of data snooping attacks when information is left exposed online. This can occur when data has not been properly encrypted, or where access to systems and servers has been allowed due to some kind of security flaw. Such events could also arise where security patches have not been applied, leaving known weaknesses available for hackers to exploit.

We may define data snooping attacks in a different way to general cyberattacks, which is where criminals may use various methods to try to break in to systems. Conversely, data snooping attacks can simply be down to where information is already easily accessible and is already exposed, meaning it can then be snooped on by criminals who could go on to misuse it.

Cyber criminals do go for what may be seen as “easy” targets, and they do search and hunt for readily available information that can be easy to access. As such, it is essential that organisations do all they can to make sure that they do not make any mistakes or errors that could lead to information being easily exposed.

Snooping in the Virgin Media data case

In the Virgin Media data leak that was identified at the start of 2020, the incident stemmed from an incorrectly configured database that was left accessible online. Unfortunately, the issue was not identified for a period of 10 months, and was only then spotted by a third party security researcher who raised the alarm with Virgin Media. By this time, another unauthorised third party had already accessed the exposed information.

This was, therefore, an example of how information was left accessible due to an error and then could be snooped on by unknown persons. As a result of this incident, some 900,000 people had their right to privacy breached, and we are pursuing claims for compensation on a No Win, No Fee basis now.

Find out if you are still in time to claim

We are now several years on from the discovery of the Virgin Media data leak, so we are at an advanced stage with our group action for compensation and for the thousands of people who we represent.

There are no guarantees in these late stages. The longer you leave things in terms of you being able to join the group action and succeed in pursuing compensation, the less likely you may be able to. This is why we always recommend that people should start their claim as soon as possible. Given that we work on a No Win, No Fee basis, what do you have to lose in pursuing a case?

You can find out if you are still in time and still eligible to pursue a claim by completing a few forms on our website here now.

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