Mass cyberattacks causing data exposure can allow victims to pursue compensation for any distress caused by the loss of control of their personal information.
We may be able to represent you for a legal case on a No Win, No Fee basis. Contact our team here now for free, no-obligation legal advice about pursuing privacy compensation today.
Claiming privacy compensation for cyberattack incidents
When it comes to mass cyberattacks causing information exposure, anyone who has been affected could be eligible to pursue compensation if we can establish that there has been a breach of the GDPR.
Typically, a breach of the GDPR comes down to showing that more could – and should – have been done to have prevented the information exposure in the first place. If it is the case that inadequate cybersecurity resulted in information being exposed, the organisation responsible for the security and safeguarding of such information can be liable.
In accordance with GDPR, victims of mass cyberattacks causing data exposure could be eligible to recover compensation for any distress caused by the loss of control of their personal information. If losses and expenses have also been incurred, these can be considered, but they are not essential to pursuing a case. In most claims, it is the distress alone that you could claim for, and our average settlement for mainly individual clients pursuing distress compensation is just over £6,000. As such, it is well worth your time pursuing a case.
Recent mass cyberattacks causing concerns
In respect of recent mass cyberattacks causing considerable concern and the risk of information exposure, the MOVEit attack was one that hit the headlines. Several firms were understood to have been caught up in the attack, including British Airways, Transport for London and the BBC, as well as a number of other high-profile companies.
Ofcom was also affected, which resulted in considerable concern given the nature of the business that they undertake.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as the UK’s data watchdog, among other authorities, are aware of the matter and investigations are ongoing. This particular incident is often referred to as a “supply-chain” attack in which the hackers target a company that manages information for a number of other organisations. This means that swathes of personal information for multiple organisations can be affected by a single cyberattack.
Healthcare data breaches: 2019 to 2020
The landscape in respect of healthcare data breaches in 2019 compared to 2020 and beyond changed dramatically as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Shifting focus in respect of meeting the needs of healthcare requirements, in some cases, left privacy and data protection by the wayside. Further, remote working and increasing reliance on digitalisation resulted in significant opportunities for hackers to exploit.
With medical data breaches being some of the most severe that there can be, it is clear that lessons need to be learned in respect of privacy following the coronavirus pandemic, as well as lessons in governance and healthcare management. Data protection incidents can not only cause distress through information exposure, but even systems being compromised and affected can directly affect the ability of clinicians to treat and help patients, which can put lives at risk. As such, the importance of data protection and privacy simply cannot be ignored.