Category: GDPR
Malicious cyberattacks and data leaks
In the digital age, cybercriminals are constantly trying to take advantage of the huge online and cloud data stores used by many companies. Personal information is now a commodity for both legitimate businesses and malicious cybercriminals, with the latter often seeking to misuse data for financial gain. Data controllers must, therefore, defend against malicious cyberattacks on a regular basis, but many do not appear to be taking this threat seriously enough.
With the current climate of cybercrime as it is, it is unacceptable for companies to be negligent of their duties to protect personal data. In fact, in cases where data controllers fail to meet the mark, they may be liable for a breach of data protection law.
As specialist data protection lawyers, we firmly believe that we cannot afford to let companies off lightly in the wake of data breaches, or the problem of non-compliance may only exacerbate. We are, therefore, aiming to hold Virgin Media to account for its failure to protect personal data, as we believe that those affected are entitled to fair compensation for the harm caused even with the event not being a cyberattack but risking one taking place.
Cyber leak compensation claims
There can be a tendency for businesses and the media to present malicious hackers as the primary threat to data security. It is true that cybercriminals have been growing in strength, with many trying to seize the opportunities presented by the global crisis of the coronavirus pandemic. However, in data breaches, it is the failed cybersecurity of legitimate businesses and organisations that can cause private information to be leaked. As a result, those affected could be eligible to make cyber leak compensation claims to recover damages for any harm caused.
As specialists in data breach claims, we have seen how companies can underestimate the importance of cybersecurity measures. When this occurs, the consequences often fall heavily on the customers or employees of these companies, whose data may become exposed to misuse.
In the Virgin Media data breach, approximately 900,000 people had their data made vulnerable to unauthorised access due to what we believe to be Virgin Media’s negligence. All those affected by the incident may be eligible to make a compensation claim, so if you were notified of your involvement in the data breach, you can register for a claim today via our online form.
Claim for loss of control following a data breach
There are number of consequences to data breaches, with victims often suffering stress or anxiety, and sometimes becoming vulnerable to data misuse and cybercrime. Traditionally, data breach claims have been brought for reasons of distress and financial loss but, as this area of law continues to develop and gain traction, it is now also possible to claim for loss of control of personal data as part of this.
It is established in law that all organisations have a duty to protect the personal information that they hold, ensuring that appropriate data protection procedures are followed, and that strong cybersecurity defences are imposed. Unfortunately, despite the mass digitisation of personal information and the continuing evolution of hackers and cybercriminals, many companies still fail to take their data protection duties seriously.
Virgin Media is one among many companies to have compromised personal data in recent years, having been responsible for the exposure of around 900,000 people’s private information. We believe that Virgin Media must answer for its breach of data protection law, which is why we are taking on compensation claims for any victims affected by the incident. Victims can sign up for a legal case here now.
Data breach victims claim in the Virgin Media group Action
Data breach victims of the Virgin Media information leak that was revealed in 2020 have been taking part in a substantial legal action that our lawyers are spearheading for our clients.
Working on a No Win, No Fee basis for clients that are eligible to claim with us, claimants could receive an estimated £5,000.00 in damages each, as featured in the mainstream media. The claim is for the loss of control of their personal information, and for any consequential losses and expenses that may also have been incurred.
Here is a little insight into the progress of our action and where you need to go to sign-up for a No Win, No Fee legal case now.
The seriousness of data leaks
Despite the growing importance of cybersecurity and data protection, many companies still fail to comprehend the seriousness of data leaks. Countless data breach incidents are reported every day, and even damning press coverage does not seem to persuade companies to improve their data protection efforts.
Meanwhile, vast numbers of victims are on the receiving end of data leaks every day, and they know the consequences all too well. The stress and anxiety of a data breach can be a severe impact in itself, without the added possibility of cybercrime.
We believe that it is important to take action to ensure that companies grasp how important data protection is, and data breach claims can allow victims to hold data controllers to account. In our Virgin Media group action, we are aiming to recover compensation for thousands of claimants, all of whom had their data exposed due to Virgin Media’s negligence. If you were affected by the breach, you can sign up now to make your claim.
GDPR breaches and compensation claims
Introduced in 2018 in the UK, the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has updated data protection law and the rights of those affected by data breaches. Applying to all businesses and organisations that hold personal information, the GDPR demonstrates the steps these parties must take to ensure data is protected. For data breaches, the law can enable them to claim compensation if they have been affected by GDPR breaches.
Although the GDPR has been in place for around three years now, many data controllers still fail to show enough recognition for their legal obligations. Towards the end of 2019, some reports suggested that approximately half of UK businesses were still not fully GDPR compliant yet, and it is unclear how much progress has been made.
In many cases, data breach incidents reveal a potential culture of negligence towards data protection within some businesses, highlighting the actions they failed to take to keep personal data secure. We believe that this is the case for the Virgin Media data breach, in which 900,000 UK consumers were affected by the exposure of their personal data. If more protections had been in place, the incident could potentially have been avoided, which is why all those affected could be entitled to claim compensation for the harm caused.
Data breach compensation claims
We often entrust our data to third-party organisations without a second thought, sometimes taking the safety of our information for granted. Everyone has a right to expect data protection to be guaranteed but, unfortunately, data controllers can often let us down due to needless human errors or system insecurities. Where data protection negligence has occurred, victims can be eligible to pursue data breach compensation claims for any harm caused.
We believe that the Virgin Media data breach is one such instance of data protection negligence. The failure to secure a database left around 900,000 UK people vulnerable to potential data misuse by cybercriminals.
In response, we launched a group action to help as many victims as possible to claim compensation for any harm caused. Virgin Media victims do not have to suffer in silence, and we can work together to ensure that the company is held to account. We are offering No Win, No Fee representation to those affected, so what have you got to lose by making a claim today?
Data breaches and the importance of online security
In the digital age, it is vital that we all stay safe online and that our personal data remains under close protection, as one mistake or wrong move could expose us to cybercrime. The importance of online security cannot be underestimated, which is why it is so concerning for victims when a data breach occurs.
Data controllers who fail to implement sufficient security measures might have little regard for the risks that they are exposing their customers, members or employees to. This failure to account for the necessity of data protection law is something all organisations must be held responsible for.
As specialists in data protection law, we want to ensure that any injustice caused by data breaches is not ignored. In our Virgin Media group action, we are aiming to use our expertise and experience in this area of law to help victims claim the compensation they deserve. As many as 900,000 UK consumers could be entitled to claim, so use our online form today to confirm your eligibility.
Data breaches in the age of cybercrime
In our current age of cybercrime, businesses and consumers are constantly having to manage the data security risks. When we disclose personal information to a third party, we implicitly trust that they will protect this data, but this is not always the case. Despite being conscious of the ever-evolving threats of cybercrime, some data controllers have yet to adapt to the new challenges that they face.
Arguably, cybercriminals have made even greater advances during the Covid-19 pandemic, with companies struggling to catch up. It may take increased pressure from regulators and consumers to ensure that companies implement further data protection measures.
Virgin Media is one company that has failed to protect people’s data, leaving it open to misuse by all manner of cybercriminals. In our group action, anyone who was affected can sign up to claim compensation and hold Virgin Media to account.
Make a sensitive data breach claim for the Virgin Media data breach
As a result of the Virgin Media data breach, approximately 900,000 victims had sensitive data exposed to unauthorised access. The avoidable error made by the telecommunications giant unfortunately made the victims vulnerable to potential data misuse. We believe that the data breach incident represents a clear breach of data protection law, and each affected victim could be entitled to make a sensitive data breach claim.
When we disclose our data to a third-party, we implicitly trust that it will be kept safely out of the hands of unauthorised users. The GDPR is designed to protect us to this effect but, unfortunately, some data controllers still fail to recognise that data protection is still an absolute necessity for their business.
In our Virgin Media group action, we hope to hold the company accountable for what we believe to be their negligence and send a message to other companies that data breaches will not be tolerated. If you were affected, you can sign up online today to join the fight for justice.
