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We focus on the latest news surrounding data breaches, leaks and hacks plus daily internet security articles.

Tag: data breach

new report uncovers councils lack of cybersecurity systems
March 11, 2019

NHS fax data breach issue uncovered

An issue that has led to a number of NHS fax data breach incidents has been reported, after mix-ups with a similar fax number has led to information going astray.

NHS data breach compensation cases are some of the more common types of claims our expert team help people with. A lot of the data breaches are caused by such simple errors that can be easily avoided. Despite this, they happen way too frequently.

The news of the fax mix ups is another example of this and comes to light after the accidental recipients of the data contacted NHS England about the incidents.

About the NHS fax data breach issues

The NHS fax data breach issue reportedly stems from GP surgeries and pharmacies accidentally sending data to the wrong number. The number they have been sending information to in some cases belongs to a hotel group who has then been receiving the faxes incorrectly.

Some of the data that has been sent to the wrong fax number includes medication requests, certificates and dispensing vouchers.

It’s understood that the fax number for the hotel group is similar to the ones used to send information within the healthcare system. The hotel group has notified the Corporate Information Governance Team for NHS England.

What’s being done about the NHS fax data breach issue?

As a result of these NHS fax data breach issues, NHS England has reportedly reminded GP surgeries and pharmacies about the importance of checking numbers. As some have recently called for a move away from faxes and pagers within the NHS, it’s claimed that this fax system is apparently the only way of sending this data within the healthcare system.

It sounds like something needs to change.

Any medical data breach can cause a huge amount of distress to the victims. When we see these simple errors over incredibly personal and sensitive data, it’s clear to us that more needs to be done.

As a firm of lawyers who specialise in data leak cases, we know how bad a breach can be for the victim.  It’s important for these simple and avoidable data breaches are stamped out.

By Author
email breach
March 06, 2019

Warnings after Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council data breach

Warnings have been issued over a 2017 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council data breach incident that was said to have been particularly sensitive.

The warnings have come from both the authority itself as well as the UK’s data watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The incident took place before the introduction of last year’s vital GDPR. The incident still amounted to a serious data protection breach and could have led to criminal prosecutions and huge fines faced by the council.

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By Author
compensation advice for hospital data breaches
March 01, 2019

U-turn in Worcester GP data breach case

NHS England has ruled in an investigation into a Worcester GP data breach after previous findings suggested that the law had not been broken.

In this unusual case, the Severn Valley Medical Practice reportedly posted information online about a patient. Initially, the Practice is understood to have disputed that any data protection breach had occurred. Since then, NHS England and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) both agree that the incident was a failure to comply with data protection obligations.

Another element that makes this case unusual is about allegations made surrounding the Data Protection Officer (DPO) who reportedly claimed there wasn’t a breach in the first place.

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By Author
equifax data breach
February 22, 2019

Equifax lawsuit in the UK

If you’ve yet to join the Equifax lawsuit in the UK that we’re pursuing on behalf of a number of victims, there’s still time to claim.

We started our action for justice against Equifax back in 2017 when news of the massive breach hit the headlines. Since then, we’ve been taking cases forward on a No Win, No Fee basis.

We’re keeping our clients duly updated. Although we can’t go into too much detail about where we’re at with the action for non-clients, we can tell you about a few developments in the fight for justice here and across the world.

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By Author
data breach group action cases
February 20, 2019

Do people claim data breach compensation?

OK, so do people claim data breach compensation? With many people not fully aware of their rights to justice, this can be a common question.

The answer is yes. We can tell you because we’re involved in over 20 different data breach group actions. On top of that, thousands have come to us for help over the years we’ve been representing victims claim data breach compensation. And thousands of pounds have been recovered for the people we help.

With more and more data suggesting that many consumers now look at an organisation’s history in terms of data breaches, it’s time for victims of incidents to know their rights for justice as well.

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By Author
local authority data breaches local authority data leak
February 13, 2019

Human error blamed for Ceredigion council data leak

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.

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By Author
onelogin data breach
February 07, 2019

The rise of the gaming data breach

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.

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By Author
domestic abuse data breach
January 22, 2019

Serious Swansea Council data breach

There has been a serious Swansea Council data breach that has affected vulnerable adults and children that was discovered in December 2018.

In this remarkable case, a diary was found on the side of the A48 road in Carmarthenshire. The diary contained personal and confidential information about vulnerable adults and children and is thought to belong to a Swansea Council employee.

It has yet to be determined how the diary ended up abandoned at the side of the road. What we know for certain is that proper care for sensitive data has not been upheld.

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By Author
data breach
January 21, 2019

Collection #1 data breach shows how vulnerable people are

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.

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By Author
data theft risks
January 18, 2019

The Butlins data breach incident

The Butlins data breach incident was one of many that hit the UK in 2018. As holidays are getting booked up in the post-Christmas period, data security may well be a concern for some.

We know from the recent Marriott data breach that passport data was compromised. The data that’s collected as part of booking holidays can be private and sensitive, and could leave victims at risk of fraudulent activity.

In the Butlins data breach of last year, it was personal information that appeared to have been exposed.

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