Category: Virgin Media Group Action
Reflecting on Cybersecurity month 2021
It is important to reflect on Cybersecurity month 2021, as we do each year, and look at how leaks like the Virgin Media incident could – and should – have been avoided in the first place.
This incident was an entirely avoidable breach, and it has had a huge impact on the thousands of people that we are representing for data breach compensation claims on a No Win, No Fee basis.
If you have yet to start your case and join the action, you can do so here now.
Unsecured database compensation claims
Many companies hold customer and employee information in huge databases, many of which can be accessed online or in the cloud as a way of making them easier to use from any location. But with ease of access comes the necessity of appropriate cybersecurity defences to prevent unauthorised users from breaching the database. Unfortunately, some organisations do not take these precautions seriously. Where information is stolen from an unsecured database, compensation claims could be launched by those affected.
In the Virgin Media data breach, the failure to secure a database resulted in the exposure of approximately 900,000 victims’ personal information, making it accessible to unauthorised users. We believe the company is responsible for negligence in terms of data protection law, which is why we are giving all those affected by the incident the opportunity to make a compensation claim in our group action.
If you were affected by the Virgin Media data breach, you can use our online form today to confirm your eligibility and start your claim.
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.
The impact of consumer data breaches
The digitisation of the business world has led to millions of consumers’ personal information being held in servers and databases. Whether you’re doing some online shopping, or signing up for a social media account, you will often find yourself disclosing a great deal of personal information to third-party companies. There should not be an inherent risk to giving businesses your information but, unfortunately, the negligence of some businesses can lead to victims suffering the impact of consumer data breaches.
In one infamous incident, approximately 900,000 UK consumers were affected by the Virgin Media data breach, which is understood to have been caused by the failure to secure a database containing personal data. The error significantly breached the privacy of those affected, as well as exposing them to potential security risks and facing threats from fraudsters and scammers.
All consumers have the right to know that their information is protected by the businesses to whom they disclose it, so businesses should be held accountable when they fail to do so. Anyone affected by the Virgin Media data breach could be eligible to make a claim in our group action to seek justice for any harm caused.
Data breach claims solicitors for the Virgin Media leak
At Your Lawyers, we have developed a strong reputation as specialist data breach claims solicitors, having represented clients for privacy matters since 2014. Our experience ranges across a variety of different cases, from employees negligently disclosing information to companies being hit by huge leaks, and this has provided us with extensive experience across this area of law.
However, as data breach claims grow in number, and as more and more firms decide to branch out into this area of law, there is a risk that data breach victims are not receiving the expert advice and representation that they deserve. Law firms should not just be representing you as a way of capitalising on a trend, but because they strongly believe in the importance of upholding data protection law and recovering the compensation you deserve. At Your Lawyers, we make this promise to each and every one of our clients.
As specialists in data breach claims and in group actions, where we fight for the rights of thousands of data breach victims in one collective claim, we are helping victims of the Virgin Media data breach. If you were affected by the incident, you could be eligible to recover compensation in our group action, and you can sign up online today to start your case.
Claim for an accidental data leak
Though many data breaches arise from hacks and information theft by cybercriminals, some are caused by the errors of the organisations and individuals that hold the data. With so many businesses holding huge volumes of personal details relating to their customers and employees, it is vital that they minimise the risk of exposure. However, there can be cracks in their systems, and where this causes an unintentional exposure of private data, those affected could be eligible to claim for an accidental data leak.
In the Virgin Media data breach, the internal mistakes were the triggers for a leak of personal data belonging to as many as 900,000 people, most of whom were customers of Virgin Media. It does not matter how unintentional these errors were – the result could still constitute a significant breach of data protection law.
In our group action, all those who were told of their involvement in the Virgin Media data breach could be eligible to claim compensation. You can use our online form to check your eligibility and sign up to claim today – No Win, No Fee.
GDPR compensation for distress
Whether your personal information was accidentally disclosed in an email error, or it was stolen in a targeted cyberattack, there can always be side-effects to data breaches. The sensitivity of our personal information means that it can be worrying to learn of its exposure, yet the emotional impact of data breaches can be disregarded in favour of shocking accounts of fraud and theft. However, in accordance with the GDPR, compensation for distress can be recovered as part of data breach claims.
Since its inception, the GDPR has recognised the “material” and “non-material” impact of data breaches, such that both financial losses and distress can be seen as valid reasons for bringing claims. We can account for the specific impact the breach has had on you when valuing your claim.
In our Virgin Media group action, we are looking to help as many victims as possible to claim the compensation they deserve. Among the 900,000 UK victims of the incident, there will likely be varying levels of distress and financial loss, so it is vital that potential claimants do not underestimate their reasons for claiming. Your justification is just as valid as any other eligible claimant.
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.
Compensation for identity theft
As the strength of cybercriminals grows, so does the threat to personal data. Your personal information can be perceived as highly valuable to malicious criminals, many of whom would seek to misuse it for their own profit. Identity theft is one risk to victims who have had their data exposed. As such, where a third-party organisation is responsible for the exposure of information, it can be possible for those affected to claim compensation for identity theft.
Following the Virgin Media data breach, victims were made vulnerable to a number of cybercrime threats, all of which we believe Virgin Media bears some responsibility for. We quickly launched a group action to see that all the 900,000 UK victims of the Virgin Media data breach have an opportunity to claim the compensation they deserve.
As specialists in data breach claims, we have represented thousands of clients in their fight for justice, and have been involved in some of the most high-profile data breach actions in the UK, including those against British Airways and 56 Dean Street Clinic. You can use our online form to start your Virgin Media compensation claim today.
Leak of private user information in the Virgin Media incident
The Virgin Media data breach that was revealed in the news in 2020 involved the leak of private user information, including names and email addresses, as well as telephone numbers and, in some cases, details about contracts.
For most online accounts nowadays, we use our names and/or email address as usernames, so this data leak could have immediately put people at risk of fraud and theft. Combine this with further data, or the contract information affected in some cases, and fraudsters could cause serious damage to innocent victims.
This is why we take data breaches and leaks so seriously here at Your Lawyers. As leading specialists in data breach claims and group actions, having launched over 50 different actions so far, we are here to help.
