How bad is the Virgin Media security breach?

For some of those who have yet to start a clam for compensation, they’ve been wondering: how bad is the Virgin Media security breach and should I be worried?

In this article, we will briefly outline why this was a severe incident and discuss how it was preventable. Both are elements that we consider when we take a new action forward, and we can also base our No Win, No Fee representation on these key elements too.

For the victims, you should know that you have a right to make a claim for compensation and that we can represent you.

How bad was the Virgin Media security breach?

Given the size of the incident, the Virgin Media security breach is a significant one. With some 900,000 people affected, it’s a substantial incident, made worse by the length of the breach period too.

We know that data was exposed between April 2019 and February 2020; a 10-month breach period! This is significant as it means that the information was there for such a length of time that it could be misused by anyone that was able to access it. We already know that at least one unknown third-party gained access to it, and they may use it (or may already have used it) with malicious intentions in mind.

We know from years of experience about the kinds of tricks that scammers and fraudsters can pull off with the kind of data that was involved in this breach. After the TalkTalk data breach, fraudsters contacted customers and convinced some that they were contacting them from TalkTalk to resolve issues. They used data involved in the cyberattack to convince people to hand over money and access to computers and accounts. Some lost thousands of pounds and there’s a real worry that victims of the Virgin Media data breach could be targeted in the same way.

How preventable was it?

Another factor that highlights how severe the Virgin Media security breach was is the fact that it was a preventable breach.

We understand that the cause of the breach has been put down to an incorrectly configured database. Something as simple as this should not mean that there’s a risk of the data for hundreds of thousands of people to be exposed. There should be better systems in place to prevent such exposure, and more robust checks in place to spot potential issues.

The exposed data was eventually found by a third-party security researcher. This means that Virgin Media themselves were not even able to identify – for such a long period of time – that data they were supposed to protect was unsecure and exposed.

What can victims do?

Victims of the Virgin Media security breach have a voice. There is a way that you can access the justice that you deserve, and that’s what we’re doing.

We’ve established the compensation action for the 900,000 victims of the breach to be able to come together and pursue legal action as part of one united front. There’s strength in numbers, and you can join the growing action now by completing the forms on the main part of the website here.

Importantly, it’s a No Win, No Fee compensation action. So, what have you got to lose?

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