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.
Stolen data breach compensation claims
Operating via the dark web, there is a huge network of hackers and online fraudsters seeking to steal personal information. The theft of a few personal details can open a wealth of possibilities for cybercriminals, which could enable them to carry out all manners of scams and attempts at fraud. While this criminal underworld bears a huge responsibility for the theft of data, businesses and other legitimate organisations must also play a role, as their failure to protect information could leave it vulnerable to misuse. Those affected by this kind of data security negligence may be able to make stolen data breach compensation claims.
When a cyberattack occurs, businesses may lead their customers to believe that they bear no responsibility, blaming the incident on the attackers alone. However, this distortion of a data breach should not mislead you. Ultimately, if a company’s negligence has led to your personal information being stolen, they may have breached data protection law.
In the case of the Virgin Media data breach, we believe that the company should be held accountable for exposing the information of around 900,000 people. Anyone affected by the incident could be eligible to make a compensation claim in our group action.
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.
Online fraud compensation claims
As cybercriminals continue to enhance their methods and develop their tools, it is becoming harder for consumers to avoid online fraud. However, consumers can be put at even greater risk when a company to whom they have disclosed their personal data fails to keep it private, as data exposure can provide fraudsters with a clear route to attacking their victims. If you have been affected by a data breach that allowed cybercriminals to steal from you, you could recover online fraud compensation as part of a claim.
In March last year, it was revealed that the personal information of 900,000 people, mainly consumers, had been exposed due to the failure to secure a Virgin Media database. In response, we began taking on claims for those affected, and we are now bringing a group action against Virgin Media for the data breach.
As a result of the exposure of their personal information, the victims of the Virgin Media data breach may have become vulnerable to online fraud. This factor can be taken into account in claims against the company. If you think you may be eligible for a case, you can sign up to claim via our online form here.
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.
Data breach victims held to ransom by cybercriminals
When personal information is exposed in a data breach, it can leave those affected vulnerable to the underground network of cybercriminals. Personal data is one of the most valuable assets circulating on the dark web, with thousands upon thousands of private records exposed each year. In the worst of cases, data exposure can cause victims to be held to ransom by cybercriminals.
As such, it is vital that companies in possession of personal information take all the precautions needed to protect it. Where they fail to do so, they are not only letting victims down, but they are also putting them at a real risk of financial loss.
Unfortunately, Virgin Media is one of many companies to have put personal data at risk, failing to protect the information of as many as 900,000 people, most of whom were their own customers. We believe that all these victims may have had their right to data protection denied by Virgin Media, which is why we are taking on compensation claims in our group action against the company.
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.
Virgin Media group action – victims of the breach are eligible to claim compensation
As a result of the Virgin Media data breach, around 900,000 UK victims (mainly customers) had their information exposed. The huge security incident is one of the largest in recent years, and we want to help as many of the victims as possible to claim the compensation they deserve. Victims of the breach are potentially in line to receive thousands of pounds in compensation if they join our group action.
When a third-party organisation fails to take sufficient action to protect your personal information, this can constitute a breach of data protection law. It can be distressing for victims to learn that their details have been exposed but, by making a claim, you can take control of the difficult situation you have been put in.
Anyone affected by the Virgin Media data breach can use our online form to check their eligibility and start their claim today.
