Files on dark web after Stor-A-File cyberattack
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It has been reported that tens of thousands of files that were exposed in the recent Stor-A-File cyberattack are now on the dark web and could be exploited by criminals.
We recently reported on the Lister Fertility Clinic data breach, which is one of the organisations affected by the cyberattack that involved services that they outsourced to Stor-A-File. The clinic has written to some 1,700 patients to inform them that their personal and sensitive medical details could be affected by the data breach. This latest development will no doubt come as a further blow now we know that information has been exposed on the dark web.
As leading Group Action Lawyers, we are taking action now and you can speak to the team here for confidential advice on pursuing a data breach compensation claim.
The latest developments in the Stor-A-File cyberattack make for concerning news. On the advice of authorities, the company is understood to have rejected to pay a ransom demand that had been issued by the hackers. They had demanded £3m in Bitcoin, presumably on the basis that they would not expose data that had been compromised.
Given that the ransom demand has been rejected, it appears that hackers have turned their threat into practice and have released tens of thousands of files on the dark web. It could now be exploited by criminals and fraudsters who could now use the stolen data to commit ID fraud or contact victims directly to try to steal money from them, or exploit them for more information. They could issue direct ransom demands to victims, which can only worsen the distress for those affected.
This is a devastating development that serves as a stark reminder as to how dangerous data breaches can really be. When information as personal and sensitive as medical data ends up in the hands of criminals, the damage that can be done can be monumental.
It is understood that information exposed in the Stor-A-File cyberattack includes personal and sensitive medical data as well as contact details. Given that GPs and the NHS use the services of Stor-A-File, medical records and very personal healthcare data is understood to be involved in the exposure.
It has also been reported that some local councils also use their services, as well as law firms and accountants. It is clear that information that has been exposed in this data breach could be enough to cause victims to suffer from understandable distress, as well as being targeted for fraud and theft.
If you have been affected by the Stor-A-File cyberattack, you could be entitled to claim data breach compensation for any distress caused by the loss of control of your personal information. You could also be eligible to recover damages for any losses and expenses incurred as well, all on a No Win, No Fee basis for eligible clients.
We are able to take cases on for claimants now on a No Win, No Fee basis. Given the potential numbers of people affected by this event, it is likely that the legal process could turn into a formal Group Action or Multi-Party Action, which is what we specialise in.
You can speak to the team here now for free, no-obligation advice.
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