Data leaked from Kent schools on the dark web

Following a cyberattack that took place in summer 2021 that affected IT provider Cantium, it has been reported that data leaked from Kent schools has now reportedly landed on the dark web.

If this is the case, there could be people whose personal and sensitive information is now in the hands of criminals and fraudsters who could use it to try to commit fraud and theft. Victims of the data breach, whoever they may be, will need to be very careful and vigilant, and steps will need to be taken to protect anyone that could be affected.

About the Kent Schools / Cantium cyberattack

In summer 2021, what had been classified as a “highly sophisticated” cyberattack hit Cantium, who is understood to be an IT provider for a number of Kent schools. Although a fix was established when they first had problems, it was feared that hackers had been able to steal data that had been caught up in the cyberattack.

It has now been reportedly revealed that data leaked from Kent schools that was affected by the Cantium incident is now on the dark web. Authorities have been working on the issue, including the police and Kent and Medway Council, and the matter has been reported to the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). It has also been suggested that some files that may relate to the police themselves and the fire service may also be affected.

There are some 600 schools across the dozen districts, but it has been reported that only a small number have actually been affected. According to Kent Online, a spokesperson for the company said:

“We are working closely with the relevant authorities and the Information Commissioner’s Office to establish what happened. We would like to reassure customers that we take the safety and security of their data very seriously and are working hard to protect and inform all stakeholders at this time.”

Data leaked from Kent schools – how bad could it be?

The data leaked from Kent schools should be a considerable cause for concern for all those involved. Although it has been reported that a comparatively small number of schools may have been affected, schools do store and process some of the most personal and sensitive information that there is.

If the personal information of teachers and adults has been exposed, it could include the usual personal and contact data, as well as financial information for staff, details about HR matters, and it may contain domestic and medical matters. Some of this could also apply to children, and this is how we know just how bad a school data breach can be for the victims.

Your Lawyers’ take on the matter

We can only hope that the damage is minimal, but with media reports suggesting that some files have now entered the dark web, victims of the data leaked from Kent schools could be targeted by criminals and fraudsters. People will need to be very wary, and they could easily be targeted for fraud and theft.

Your Lawyers, as a leading firm of data leak lawyers, has seen more than its fair share of these kinds of data breaches and the serious impact that they can have on the victims. Having been representing victims for privacy matters since 2014, and having recovered over £1m in data breach damages to date for mainly individual clients, our experience in this area of law really does speak for itself.

We have seen the huge impact that can be had on victims whose personal information is misused and exposed. Victims can be eligible to claim data breach compensation for any distress caused by the loss of control of their personal information, and we do offer No Win, No Fee legal representation.

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