Containing some of the most sensitive information we may ever disclose to a third party, our medical records require substantial protection, as all personal data does. Unfortunately, health organisations can be prime targets for hackers because of the value of this sensitive data, a problem that is often exacerbated by the failure of these organisations to implement sufficient cybersecurity methods. As a result, cybercriminals may be circulating countless medical records on the dark web, and victims need to know what to do.
If a third-party organisation fails to protect your personal data, in can be very difficult to prevent yourself from being exposed to the dangers of cybercrime. Because a data breach can come with a significant financial and emotional cost, the law can entitle you to claim compensation for the harm caused.
As leading, specialists in data breach law, we aim to help all victims who come to us to achieve the justice they deserve where we can. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any enquiries about making a data breach claim.
Cybercriminals posting medical records on the dark web
Personal data is a valuable commodity in the digital age, so many medical records on the dark web may have been posted there for resale to other criminals. In some cases, criminals hold your data for ransom by threatening to post it online, aiming to extort money from you in return for agreeing not to publish the data.
Sometimes, criminals may aggregate data over time, but there are also cases of file dumps resulting directly from specific data breaches. For example, patient data from two US hospitals, Leon Medical Centers and Nocona General Hospital, were recently posted to a site on the dark web which cybercriminals use to hold data for ransom. Although we cannot represent US victims for cases, these are just examples of how easy it can be for such sensitive information to end up online.
The implications of medical data breaches
The implications of medical data breaches can be severe, primarily because the information is so sensitive and private, so its exposure can cause immense distress to patients. It can be highly worrying to know that criminals may be circulating your medical records on the dark web.
There are a few very real possibilities which may worry patients, such as their information being used as fuel for blackmail, or their contact details being used to target them with scams and fraud attempts. As a result, the emotional impact can also be worsened by a financial impact.
Making a compensation claim
As advocates of data security, we believe that no one should have to suffer the effects of a data breach but, unfortunately, such incidents continue to occur time and time again. If a data breach has exposed your medical records on the dark web, you may be entitled to make a medical data breach compensation claim.
Typically, we can recover compensation to cover the distress experienced as a result of the data breach, as well as any losses or expenses incurred. We don’t want anyone to miss out on the chance to assert their right to adequate data protection, so contact us today to receive free, no-obligation advice on your potential claim.