Claiming for a breach exposing sensitive data

When you are affected by a breach exposing sensitive data, the emotional and financial impact can be severe. It can be worrying to know that your private details have been released into the world, given the prevalence of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime and the threat it can pose to personal security.

On an individual level, many of us are aware of the risks and take the necessary precautions, so it is frustrating when third-party organisations fail to protect personal data on our behalf. Such was the case in the Virgin Media data breach, when what has been blamed on an internal human error caused the exposure of data belonging to 900,000 UK victims. We believe that Virgin Media should be held accountable for the negligence shown towards sensitive data, which is why we launched a group action against the company.

Thousands of claimants have already joined our action, but we want to ensure that no one misses out on their chance to claim compensation for the harm caused to them. We have made it quick and easy for victims to start a claim, so why not sign up today via our online form here.

The implications of a breach exposing sensitive data

A breach exposing sensitive data can be capable of causing significant harm to the victims. In cases where the exposed data can offer a deeply private insight into a victim’s life, the emotional impact can be particularly severe. For example, medical records are often highly sensitive, so it can be worrying to think this information may fall into the wrong hands.

In the case of the Virgin Media data breach, the information exposed included email addresses, postal addresses and phone numbers. On the face of things, it may not seem that the exposure of these details constitutes a substantial breach of data privacy, but it would be wrong to dismiss the breach on this basis. In fact, cybercriminals can use contact details to hound victims with scam calls and phishing emails, which often infringe significantly on everyday mental well-being. If one of these scams sticks, victims could be put at risk of identity fraud and theft from their bank accounts. They can also dupe people into handing over more sensitive data, and some of the Virgin Media victims did have sensitive contract information exposed also.

Virgin Media and our group action claim

We believe that Virgin Media is guilty of a data protection breach exposing sensitive data. The matter has often been pinned on an individual employee’s error, but this is not how data protection works. It is the responsibility of the company as a whole to ensure that all private data remains secure. Failing to secure a database for 10 months is a significant breach of this duty in our view.

In our group action, claims can take account of the dual impact of data breaches, as victims can claim for the distress that they have endured, as well as any financial expenses or losses caused. There are no hidden conditions – you only need to have been notified of your involvement in the breach in order to potentially be eligible to make a claim.

Start your compensation claim for breach exposing sensitive data

As expert data breach and group action lawyers, we currently sit on the Steering Committee for the monumental British Airways Group Litigation Order, after the airline was at the centre of a breach that exposed sensitive data. Our knowledge in this area of law means that we are well equipped to bring thousands of claims, so join our claim today to receive No Win, No Fee representation from an expert team of lawyers.

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