We focus on the latest news surrounding data breaches, leaks and hacks plus daily internet security articles.
The concept of data breach distress compensation is a relatively new area of law, and one that we’ve been at the forefront of for several years; but what is it, and what do we do?
As the world becomes increasingly more digitalised, the likelihood that data is misused, leaked or hacked is more common. We no longer have to just lock up our doors at night; we also need to make sure that our electronic doors are safe and secure. With more information accessible and stored digitally, it’s more susceptible to being breached.
The result is that data breach incidents have grown astronomically in recent years. As a result, people are suffering; and that’s where we can help.
We’re only in March, and we’ve already seen LOQBOX hacked, MGM breached, and Travelex held to ransom this year. Now, Boots Advantage Card and Tesco Clubcard customers have been targeted by hackers too.
Warnings have been issued by both retailers, and Boots has suspended people being able to use loyalty points for payments. Around 600,000 Tesco Clubcard customers are thought to have been targeted, and it may be the same hackers behind the attacks.
It’s important to point out that neither Boots nor Tesco’s systems have been compromised, according to their communication. This appears to be a case of hackers using information stolen from separate hacks to then try and break into Boots and Tesco customer accounts. This is precisely why we point out that even small attacks can lead to wider problems, and why people should never use the same login credentials across multiple platforms.
As a leading data claims law firm, we can offer our valuable insight into GDPR breach compensation amounts, and what you may be entitled to receive.
The GDPR has paved the way for the UK’s data regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), to now issue substantial financial penalties for breaches. The amounts can be in the millions: the intention to fine British Airways for their 2018 breaches has been set at a provisional £183m, which is a record-breaking amount.
But the money from fines isn’t designed to be used for compensation, and will normally go into the treasury. What we focus on is what the victims are entitled to through a GDPR claim for compensation.
A simple and common type of data breach occurs when mail is sent to the wrong person. It can easily happen, and it often does happen, and victims should know their rights.
For the victims, once a data leak like this has taken place, the damage is done. It can be easy for this kind of incident to be brushed off as a simple “human error”, but there can be so much more to it than that. In many cases, an incident like this is very preventable and we really shouldn’t be seeing so many incidents like this at all
If this has happened to you, you shouldn’t have to accept that it’s just ‘one of those things’. As a leading firm of expert data breach compensation lawyers, we know from our years of experience how a data leak can really impact a victim. Here’s how we can help you.
If your medical records are exposed, you could be entitled to make a claim for data breach compensation with us on a No Win, No Fee basis.
We represent a lot of people for cases of this nature, and the impact on the victim is usually severe. Data breach compensation amounts are designed to reflect the severity of the distress caused by the loss of control of personal information. When the data misused or exposed is particularly sensitive and confidential, like medical data, the distress can be worse. As such, pay-outs can be significant.
Victims should never suffer in silence. If you have been the victim of a medical records data breach, you could be entitled to compensation, and we can help.
We represent victims for Department for Work and Pensions data breaches, and we know that the impact in terms of the distress suffered can be severe.
Public sector data breaches are one of the most common types of legal cases that we take forward for people on a No Win, No Fee basis. Given the ongoing resource restraints that many areas of the public sector are under, it’s not uncommon to see incidents that involve organisations like the DWP. Victims do not have to suffer in silence, and they have the right to make a claim for compensation with us.
As a leading firm of data breach compensation experts that have been helping thousands of people for years in this complex and niche area of law, we can help you.
You can be entitled to make a claim for compensation as a victim of a council data leak, and we can represent you on a No Win, No Fee basis for a case.
Council data protection compensation cases are one of the more common types of individual cases that we take forward. They can cover a range of local authority departments, and this can include schools and social services.
The impact of a council data incident can be substantial given the nature of the information they hold. In fact, data breach compensation amounts in these kinds of cases can be high when we see particularly personal and sensitive data misused or exposed. It’s important for victims to know their rights!
Here’s a question that we can answer – can the ICO investigate the police? If they can, how do people get the justice that they deserve as a victim of a data breach?
The reason we’re approaching this is because a lot of people are unsure when it comes to what rights they have for complaints and issues with the police. Some people feel that there’s no one to turn to when a wrong has been committed by the very service that’s there to enforce the law.
But the police are not above the law. Although many of us can be thankful for their hard work and for putting their own lives on the line for our safety, they must still comply with the law. This includes the Data Protection Act, and the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) can get involved.
In some cases, those small and simple data breaches can actually be the worst; especially when the context of the incident is considered.
It can only take one employee of an organisation failing to understand the rules that can lead to a substantial breach. It can only take just one piece of leaked information to cause significant to distress for the victim as breaches can be very subjective.
Take it from a leading law firm with a proven track record of succeeding with data breach cases that sample leaks, breaches and hacks can cause devastation. Our role is to make sure that anyone – no matter who they are and what the breach is – can access the justice they may be entitled to.
We represent victims for police breach data protection breach compensation claims, and we can offer No Win, No Fee arrangements for cases that we can take forward.
Although we can be thankful for the hard work and bravery of many officers of the law, it’s important to remember that the police are not above the law. This includes officers, senior staff, and administration and support employees. Anyone employed within the police service is subject to the same rules as everyone else, and the Data Protection Act and the GDPR apply.
If you have been affected by a leak, breach or hack involving the police, you should speak to our team for free, no-obligation advice. We’re data compensation experts with a proven track record of settling claims, with thousands of people having come to us for our specialist advice and legal representation.
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