We focus on the latest news surrounding data breaches, leaks and hacks plus daily internet security articles.
Greater Facebook regulation is looking imminent after a year-long inquiry that included issues over the misuse of personal data.
The inquiry, launched in-part after the Cambridge Analytica scandal, comes after a spate of recent data breach incidents involving the social medial platform. The recommendations made by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee include an independent regulator to oversee tech firms like Facebook.
It’s not been an easy process judging from the remarks of MPs and others involved with the inquiry. Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, didn’t even come to the UK to answer questions himself, which has reportedly caused a stir.
The recent iPhone eavesdropping bug has whipped up something of a frenzy after a glitch was discovered that affected users of its FaceTime feature.
In an era where we’re constantly being hit with data breaches, and were online security is at the forefront of many people’s minds, the issue has resulted in a great deal of worry for some people. And with Apple often talking about how much they value privacy, this latest glitch has no doubt caused a bit of embarrassment.
Some have called for people to refrain from using the FaceTime feature until the iPhone eavesdropping bug has been resolved. We’d be inclined to agree.
A settlement was recently reached over the 2013 Yahoo data hack incidents that saw billions of accounts compromised worldwide.
The holding company for what remains of Yahoo who took over the company’s liabilities has reached a settlement for a number of legal actions it had been facing in the wake of the cyber-attack.
The Yahoo data hack was one of the biggest ever recorded. It was arguably a real wakeup call about the importance of data security in a world that’s continually increasing the use of online technology.
Human error has been blamed for the Ceredigion council data leak that was discovered last year. Personal and sensitive information had been accidentally uploaded to the council’s website in error.
The matter was reported to the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) who could still issue a GDPR fine. However, for the victims, justice can be achieved by a separate legal case they’d be entitled to launch.
Human error remains one of the top causes for data breach incidents in the UK. Council data breach compensation claims are also one of the more common types of cases we deal with as well. We’re therefore not surprised to hear that the Ceredigion council data leak fits into this category.
Are we in the midst of a rise in gaming data breach incidents? As more and more games are now full of consumables, we know hackers are targeting the gaming industry.
We recently wrote about the Fortnite hackers who have been reportedly making a mint off the back of stealing other people’s accounts and selling them on. Teenagers are being recruited to get involved in mass hacking jobs that appear relatively easy to carry out.
When you consider that the gaming industry is now an even more lucrative market as a result of consumables like loot boxes and other in-game purchases, digital property can be an attractive and profitable target.
There are reportedly worrying numbers of Sandwell Council data breach incidents, a Freedom of Information request has revealed.
We can’t say that we’re surprised. A huge number of the Claimants we represent are claiming for council data breach compensation. Of the thousands of people who have approached us for help over the years we’ve been fighting for data breach justice, a large proportion are claims involving local government services.
What’s further worrying is the fact that the nature of the data local councils and their agents hold is usually voluminous and can be incredibly personal and sensitive in nature.
The recent Twickenham school data breach incidents in the news last month highlight the sorts of problems we face when it comes to data protection.
In these incidents, headteacher Darren Harrison was fined £700.00 and ordered to pay costs of £364.00, plus a victim surcharge of £35, for breaching data laws. He’d reportedly taken data from previous schools he’d worked at – Spelthorne Primary and Russell School – for, he says, professional reasons. He then uploaded the data on to the server of the school he’d then been employed with, Isleworth Town Primary School.
An IT audit discovered the movement of the data about the pupils. This kind of breach is not unique at all.
The monumental Collection #1 data breach that hit the headlines last week shows just how vulnerable people are to data breaches.
The incident, known as the Collection #1 breach, involved what many say is the biggest ever dump of hacked information on the internet. Hundreds of millions of email addresses and passwords that are thought to have been taken from a number of different hacks were published online. Criminals may have been using the information to break into people’s accounts for years.
The sheer volume of the Collection #1 data is a stark reminder as to just how vulnerable people are nowadays.
The incredibly serious Wokingham Council data breach that came to light in the last few weeks was a severe example of how bad a council data breach can be.
This particular breach was said to be an error that’s among a number that had been identified with Wokingham Council. Councils and local authority agencies hold a great deal of incredibly personal and sensitive data about thousands of individuals. This includes vulnerable people and children.
As such, any council data breach can be severe. This latest Wokingham Council breach is one of the worst we’ve seen.
Fortnite hackers – some of whom are as young as 14 – are reportedly making a mint through the practice of “Fortnite Cracking”.
Fortnite, the free-to-play online game where users can make in-game purchases like skins for their characters, has opened up a whole new form of black market. Hackers are targeting accounts and stealing them to then resell them based on the value of the account.
Some of the hackers are reportedly making thousands of pounds from stealing the accounts of other users. Now, authorities are set to be stepping-up their efforts to stop this growing black market.
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