University Of Sheffield Data Breach Compensation Claims Experts

100% No Win, No Fee Claims
Nothing to pay if you lose.

  • Free legal advice from a friendly solicitor.
  • Specialist solicitors with up to 30 years experience
  • Find out if you can claim compensation Call 0800 073 8804

Start My Claim Online

University Of Sheffield Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide

If personal information is accessed in a data breach by the University of Sheffield, in this guide you’ll be able to find free legal advice on whether or not you can claim compensation.

University of Sheffield data breach claims guide

University of Sheffield data breach claims guide

The laws relating to how personal data is collected, processed, and stored is stronger today than ever before. The Data Protection Act 2018 ratified the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) into UK law. These laws allow you to have more control over how your personal information is used by organisations which include universities.

Our guide explains how all organisations must follow the law relating to how personal information is collected, used, and stored. When the law is not followed and a data breach occurs, you could have grounds to sue if your information is accessed and misused.

To find out more and how Legal Expert is here to assist you, please continue reading our guide by clicking on the sections below. If you would like to speak to an adviser and receive free legal advice, please call a member of our team on 0800 073 8804.

Select A Section

A Guide On Data Breach Claims Against The University Of Sheffield

GDPR privacy policies can be seen on the websites you click onto whether it is when you are shopping online or visiting a site for the first time. When you enrol at a university, the GDPR privacy policy appears on the first page. Each website has its own privacy policy and it is always worth reading through them. You then know how your personal data is being collected, processed, and used.

All data controllers must ask your permission before using your personal data. It is against the law for a data controller to use your personal information in a manner you did not authorise.

If can prove that your personal information was accessed in a data breach by Sheffield University, you could sue for compensation. However, you must show the university breached the law and that you suffered damage as a result for your claim to be valid. Our guide explains the laws regarding personal data security and how all data controllers must follow regulations set out by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The time limit to making a data breach claim is 6 years from the date you obtained knowledge of the breach. If there is a breach of human rights, the statutory time limit is just 1 year. With this in mind, please contact a member of our team because it is far wiser to begin a data breach claim as soon as possible.

To benefit from free legal advice and to find out how best to proceed with a data breach claim, please get in touch today.

What Is A Breach Of Data Protection Legislation At Sheffield University?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) covers all personal data, both digital and physical. The GDPR issues fines to data controllers and processors when personal information is not kept secure.

The GDPR defines a data breach as being:

A security incident leading to personal data being accessed, destroyed, lost, altered or disclosed in any kind of unauthorised manner

Examples of cybersecurity breaches can include:

  • Ransomware demands
  • Phishing emails
  • Hacking
  • Malware
  • Key loggers
  • Spyware

The GDPR will investigate deliberate and illegal data breaches but will also investigate accidental breaches too. As soon as a data breach occurs, a data controller is legally obliged to investigate the breach. Additionally, a data controller must inform the ICO that a data breach occurred. If it is found that a data subject is put at risk by the breach, they must be given the following information:

  • The cause of the data breach
  • When the breach happened (time and date)
  • The sort of personal data that was accessed

If you can show that you are the victim of a data breach by Sheffield University, please get in touch and receive free legal advice on how to proceed.

How Does The GDPR Apply To Universities And Higher Education?

Data controllers and processors must comply with the law relating to data processing. Universities collect and process your personal data. As such, they are legally obliged to ensure the law regarding data collection/processing is followed. This includes:

  • Complying with the laws relating to processing data and how it is used so methods are fair as well as transparent
  • Explain why personal data is needed prior to it being processed
  • Processing data must be secure and confidential
  • Personal data must not be kept for any longer than necessary
  • The minimum amount of data possible should be processed
  • Personal data should be kept up to date

The GDPR covers the following personal information:

  • All data that directly identifies a data subject which includes student numbers, names, addresses, contact numbers and email addresses
  • Data that indirectly helps identify a person

If a data breach by Sheffield University happens because the law was not followed, and you have proof, please get in touch today. Your data breach claim against the University of Sheffield could be valid.

Types Of Breaches In Data Protection You May Claim For

All data breaches investigated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) are kept in a register. This includes data breaches that occur in universities in the UK. An example of a serious cybersecurity breach occurred at Blackbaud when hackers got into the company’s system that kept their backup data. Personal data was downloaded by the cybercriminals and Blackbaud paid a ransom.

Blackbaud works with universities and other educational facilities. The company provides a cloud-based database. As soon as the company paid the cybercriminals the demanded ransom, Blackbaud then notified affected parties of the data breach.

The universities affected by the breach then released official statements informing those affected what to watch out for. Although Blackbaud initially said that no financial or password information had been accessed, later in a court filing, the company admitted it could have occurred in the breach.

If you were the victim of a data breach by Sheffield University, please get in touch with a member of our team. You would receive free legal advice on how best to proceed.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54370568

Rates Of Breaches In Data Protection At Universities

A report published by IT security firm Redscan found that universities in the UK face many challenges when it comes to keeping personal data secure. The report found:

  • 54% of UK universities that responded to the IT company’s survey reported a data breach to the ICO in the previous 12 months
  • 8% of the universities experienced more than 5 data breaches in the same 12 months
  • Only 12% scheduled external penetration tests 4 times per year with 27% not scheduling any tests at all
  • The average annual cybersecurity training budget for each university stood at £7,529
  • 54% of university staff were offered cybersecurity training in the last 12 months

To find out whether you could be represented on a No Win No Fee basis when making a claim for a data breach by Sheffield University, get in touch with our team on the number at the top of this page.

Source: https://www.redscan.com/news/state-of-cybersecurity-uk-universities-foi-report

How Cybercrime Can Affect University Data Security

Data held by universities in the UK are sought after by hackers and cybercriminals. Many universities carry out essential research which must not fall into the wrong hands. When there is a data breach, cybercriminals can use your personal information to extort money, or they can sell the data to others. In short, identity theft is a real problem you may face when there is a data breach.

The university in question could also be issued a hefty fine if there is a data breach. The fine is issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

As we’ve seen above, an example of a serious data breach occurred when Blackbaud’s system was accessed by cybercriminals.

Universities could reduce the chance of a data breach happening by including the cybersecurity measures listed below:

  • To make sure IT systems are secure and to update cybersecurity when necessary
  • Hard drives must be encrypted
  • Cybersecurity training programmes for staff and students should be set in place
  • Conduct frequent penetration tests – ideally carried out by professional IT security companies
  • Regularly review data protection policies

If you were the victim of a data breach by Sheffield University and would like to know if you could claim, please get in touch today.

What Do I Have The Right To Be Compensated For?

Data breach claims tend to be complex because there is so much at stake. Not only is there the immediate harm caused by the breach, but the problem may turn out to be permanent.

Hackers and cybercriminals can use your personal information or they can sell it to other cybercriminals. It could even lead to identity theft. As such, when you make a data breach claim against the University of Sheffield, if they are responsible, you have to take all this into account.

Once you make a successful data breach claim and you are compensated, you cannot then file another claim if the breach causes harm further down the line. With this in mind, it is far wiser to seek advice from an expert data breach solicitor before pursuing a claim.

When assessing the harm you are caused by a data breach by Sheffield University, you must consider:

  • Whether the breach affected you financially (material damages)
  • And whether the breach affected you psychologically (non-material damages)

The compensation awarded for material damages covers the financial losses you incurred because of the data breach. An expert data breach solicitor can be of assistance in calculating any future losses if your personal data was sold to other cybercriminals following the breach.

You can also claim non-material damages in a data breach claim. This includes the psychological harm you suffered because of the breach. The sort of psychological harm could include:

  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

To find out how Legal Expert can help you make a data breach claim against the University of Sheffield, please speak to a member of our team by calling the number at the top of the page.

Calculating Settlements For Data Breach Claims Against Sheffield University

We have included some example compensation amounts in our table below. However, all claims are valued on their unique merits. As such, the amounts awarded in successful data breach claims can differ from case to case.

With this in mind, please get in touch with one of our friendly advisers. They can offer a more accurate idea of the value of your data breach claim once they learn more about it.

The Court of Appeal helpfully provided essential guidance on claims for compensation for a data breach. The case of Vidal-Hall and others vs Google Inc [2015] ruled that:

  • Claimants can seek compensation for psychiatric injuries even when they do not suffer any financial loss in a data breach—a departure from the previous legal position, which required financial loss.
  • The amount of compensation awarded for psychological harm be based on awards paid out in personal injury claims

The amounts we have provided in our table are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines which solicitors, courts, and insurers use to help value injuries.

Edit
Type of Harm/Injury Severity Amount awarded in general damages based on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)
Psychiatric Damage Severe £51,460 – £108,620
Psychiatric Damage Moderately Severe £17,900 to £51,460
Psychiatric Damage Moderate £5,500 to £17,900
Psychiatric Damage Less Severe Up to £5,500
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD Severe £56,180 to £94,470
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD Moderate to severe £21,730 to £56,180
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD Moderate £7,680 to £21,730
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD Less severe Up to £7,680

We must point out that when assessing the level of psychological harm you were caused by a data breach, you must undergo a medical examination.

The examination must be carried out by an independent medical professional. The appointment would typically be arranged by the data breach solicitor who takes on your claim and would be scheduled locally to you. This psychological assessment is an essential part of a data breach claim.

If you have any questions about compensation payouts in data breach claims, please get in touch with our team.

How To Find Out If You Are Owed Compensation For A Data Breach

If you are not sure whether you could seek compensation if your personal information was accessed in a data breach, Legal Expert can be of assistance. One of our friendly advisers is here to take your call and offer free legal advice regarding data breach claims.

We offer a free, no-obligation consultation which allows us to assess a case. If your case is found valid, one of our data breach solicitors will offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. Before you sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (the formal name for a No Win No Fee agreement), an expert data breach solicitor would walk you through the claims process. The solicitor will also:

  • Answer any questions you have during the claims process
  • Provide updates on the progress of the data breach claim
  • Arrange for an independent medical report
  • Handle all aspects of your claim which includes communicating with a defendant’s solicitors and insurers
  • Work had to ensure you receive the maximum data breach compensation possible

To find out more about No Win No Fee data breach claims, please get in touch with a Legal Expert adviser today.

No Win No Fee Data Breach Claims Against The University Of Sheffield

Many people worry about the cost of legal representation when they make a claim. However, Legal Expert provides a No Win No Fee service to claimants who have grounds to sue for compensation.

On contacting an adviser, you would be offered a free initial consultation to assess your case. If you decide not to pursue a claim, you would be under no obligation to proceed. That said if you do agree you would be connected to one of our expert data breach solicitors. In short, the worry of funding a data breach claim is no longer an issue.

When a solicitor agrees to take on your claim there are no upfront or ongoing fees to pay. The terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (formal name for a No Win No Fee agreement) sets out the amount you pay called a ‘success fee’. This is a percentage that is only payable when you win your case and is used to cover your lawyer’s fees. The percentage is then deducted directly from the data breach compensation awarded.

The benefits of having a No Win No Fee solicitor act on your behalf when you make a data breach claim include:

  • The solicitor can immediately begin work on your claim
  • If you need private treatment, therapy, or other medical care, you don’t have to worry about the cost. The payment is taken care of in the data breach compensation you are awarded in a successful claim
  • If you lose your data breach claim, you do not have to pay the ‘success fee’ as agreed in the No Win No Fee agreement, nor any of your solicitor’s costs.

Please speak to a member of our team today to benefit from free legal advice and to find out if a No Win No Fee solicitor will take on your data breach claim against the university of Sheffield.

Talk To A Lawyer Today

If you have any further questions about seeking compensation if your information was accessed in a data breach by Sheffield University, please get in touch. An expert adviser can be reached in the following ways:

  • By calling the following telephone number 0800 073 8804
  • If you prefer, you can email us at info@legalexpert.co.uk
  • Alternatively, an adviser can be reached through our Live Chat
  • You also have the choice to complete our online claim form by clicking here

To benefit from free legal advice on claiming compensation for a data breach by Sheffield University, please contact a member of the Legal Expert team today. Your case will be assessed to see if you have good reason to sue for compensation. If so, a No Win No Fee lawyer will take on your case taking all the worry of funding a data breach claim off the table.

Related Guides

Signs of Identity Theft

What to look for if you are the victim of identity theft

NHS advice on PTSD

The NHS provides essential advice on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

How to Claim Compensation for PTSD

A guide to PTSD compensation claims

Psychological injury claims

A guide to compensation for psychological harm

Guide to psychiatric injury claims

A look at a £250,000 compensation payout for a psychiatric injury

Other Useful Compensation Guides

Thank you for reading our guide to University of Sheffield data breach claims.

Guide by Wood

Edited by Billing

    Contact Us

    Fill in your details below for a free callback

    Trustpilot

    Meet The Team

    • Patrick Mallon

      Patrick is a Grade A solicitor having qualified in 2005. He's an an expert in accident at work and public liability claims and is currently our head of the EL/PL department. Get in touch today for free to see how we can help you.

      View all posts

    Our Top Legal Guides