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University Of Wolverhampton Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide

Data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton can be made when personal information is exposed and you suffer financial or mental damage as a result. The incident could be an accidental breach. It may be intentional or because of a cyber-crime.

Could I Claim For A Breach Of Data Protection At A University?

Universities collect and process an enormous amount of personal data. They collect personal information of students, alumni, staff, and other people and organisations they link to. As such, the University of Wolverhampton should set in place robust security. It is a legal requirement for data controllers to make sure data is secure.

University of Wolverhampton data breach claims guide

University of Wolverhampton data breach claims guide

When universities don’t comply with the law and a data breach happens, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) must be informed. Our guide explains your rights. We cover the rules that data controllers must follow.

In the sections that follow we explain how data breach compensation is calculated. Furthermore, we offer advice on the damage you could be compensated for. Lastly, we provide advice on how our No Win No Fee solicitors can help you make a successful university data breach claim.

To read more about data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton, please continue reading our guide. Alternatively, to discuss your case with one of our expert advisers, please call us on 0800 073 8804. All calls to this number are free of charge.

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A Guide On Data Breach Claims Against The University of Wolverhampton

Cybercrime is on the rise. Universities are routinely targeted by hackers and cyber-criminals. To help protect your personal information, new laws and regulations are now in place. All organisations that process personal information (data controllers) must abide by these laws. A failure to comply will result in a heavy fine.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provides more control on how your data is used. All UK universities must take extra care in protecting the data they collect.

In this guide, we cover data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton. We go into your rights when a breach happens. In the sections below, you will find information on the role the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) plays and how the authority enforces data breach law but does not compensate victims of a breach.

We explain the consequences of a data breach, and how your data could be lost, destroyed, altered, disclosed, or sold. It can be accidental, criminal, or intentional.

Many people worry about the cost of legal representation. This is why we provide advice on how a No Win No Fee solicitor can act on your behalf and how Legal Expert can help you. To find out more, please get in touch with one of our advisers on the number at the top of the page.

Data Breach Claims Against the University of Wolverhampton Time Limits

The deadline is 6 years from the date you became aware of a university data breach. However, when human rights are affected by a data breach, the time limit is a lot shorter. You only have 1 year to seek data breach compensation when human rights are affected.

We always recommend that claimants seek legal advice to find out which deadline applies to their case. As such, to benefit from free legal advice regarding data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton, please get in touch with an adviser today.

What Are Breaches In Data Protection At Universities?

The University of Wolverhampton collects a vast amount of data from students, alumni, donors, staff, and others. The data must be protected by law. Universities, therefore, must have security protocols in place. However, breaches in data protection happen and when it does, the consequences can be devastating.

Data protection laws are:

  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • The Data Protect Act 2018 (DPA 2018)

When a university does not follow the law and is not GDPR compliant, it could create situations in which data breaches arise. The Blackbaud data breach affected many UK universities. Hackers accessed personal data and while the company paid them to delete their copies, there’s no guarantee it was done.

Source: https://universitybusiness.co.uk/headlines/data-breach-at-eight-uk-universities

The universities affected by the Blackbaud data breach included:

Did the Blackbaud data breach impact you financially or mentally? A claim could be made against the company directly as opposed to the university. If you have been impacted, please contact Legal Expert to receive free legal advice. We offer a first consultation that is free of charge. You are under no obligation to proceed with your claim if you decide not to.

How Data Breaches Against the University of Wolverhampton Could Happen

A data breach could happen accidentally, intentionally, or criminally. Two reasons for data breaches in education settings could involve:

  • When a member of staff makes a mistake or accidentally exposes personal data to other people
  • Malicious acts carried out by cybercriminals and hackers

Regardless of how a data breach happens, the university involved is liable. To speak to an adviser about your potential case, please get in touch today. A member of our team will provide you with free legal advice on how best to go forward.

Accidental University Data Breaches

As previously mentioned, accidental breaches do happen. It could be due to an error or oversight. A staff member may accidentally send personal data to the wrong people. Examples being:

  • An employee sends emails containing personal data of another staff member to the wrong people
  • Stolen devices, laptops, and hard drives
  • Publishing personal data by mistake. This is similar to what happened in the University of Greenwich security breach, in which the personal information of 20,000 people was left on a dormant microsite and was accessed by hackers.
  • Other people read personal data on a computer screen that is not turned off

Malicious University Data Breaches

Universities like other data controllers must have data protection protocols set up. Their computer systems have to be secure. Data kept in physical files must be locked away. That said, cybercriminals and hackers do still access systems. They find vulnerabilities in security and take advantage of them.

Malicious university data breaches could involve:

  • Ransomware
  • Spyware
  • Tricking employees into divulging user login details (phishing attacks)
  • Malicious software disguised to seem like genuine downloads

How a University Data Breach Could Affect you

You may not be aware of a breach until the university informs you. However, you may have already received strange messages or phone calls. The consequences of being a victim of a data breach could lead to all sorts of problems. It could result in:

  • Hackers accessing sensitive financial information
  • Cybercriminals selling private phone numbers and addresses
  • Identity theft
  • Fraud
  • Financial loss such as through your credit cards

All of the above could leave you vulnerable and suffering from a psychological injury. When your privacy is compromised you may suffer anxiety attacks and depression. The entire experience can leave you shell-shocked and may even leave you suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

To find out if you have good cause to seek university data breach compensation, please call an adviser today. We offer an initial, no-obligation consultation that is free of charge. This allows an experienced adviser to review your case.

GDPR Breaches And Notifications

Data controllers should follow the 7 key principles of GDPR which sets out how they should behave, and how your personal data is processed. When a university fails to follow these principles, and there is a breach in which you suffer mental or financial damage, you could sue for compensation.

These regulations provide more control over how a data subject’s personal information is collected, used, and stored. When there is a breach, the Information Commissioner’s Office must be informed within 72 hours. A university should carry out an internal investigation too and inform those affected without undue delay. The ICO may also launch an investigation into the breach.

When a university is non-compliant with GDPR, the ICO will issue a fine. However, the Information Commissioner’s Office does not handle data breach claims. They do not award compensation to claimants either. You must start private legal proceedings against the organisation responsible if you want to claim compensation. One of our experienced data breach lawyers can tell you if you have grounds to sue.

For more advice about data protection law, please contact a member of our team on the freephone number at the top of the page.

Which UK Universities Have Experienced A Breach Of Data Protection?

Several UK universities have been affected by data breaches in recent years. As we’ve seen above, the University of Greenwich was fined £120,000.

The Blackbaud data breach was also a serious event, yet the damage and investigations are yet to be truly revealed.

Another example involved the University of East Anglia and a costly and accidental error. A group of university students had their personal information sent to 298 people, detailing health problems, personal issues and bereavements.

Insurers for the university have since paid out around £140,000 to those affected.

Please get in touch to find out if you can sue for compensation in the wake of a university data breach. We provide a no-obligation consultation for which there is no charge.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-51284352

Cybersecurity Statistics At Universities

A security firm, Redscan, carried out a survey and found that of the universities that responded to their Freedom of Information request, 54% had reported a data breach in the 12 months in question.

The survey also found:

  • Just 46% of members of staff were given awareness training
  • Universities only spend £7,529 a year on educating staff in cyber-security
  • Only 52% of students were proactively given security training
  • 37% of universities did provide students with resources when they requested it

Were you affected by a university data breach? To find out if you have grounds to sue, please get in touch today. An adviser will review your claim before advising on how best to go forward.

What Is A Cybersecurity Breach?

Hackers and cybercriminals are known to target universities. Higher education institutions carry out sensitive research which is why they are targeted. Cybercriminals steal the information to sell it to other unscrupulous people.

The type of cyber-attacks that universities often have to cope with includes:

  • Spyware
  • Phishing emails that trick employees into sharing sensitive data
  • Ransomware
  • DDoS attacks – Distributed Denial of Service attacks
  • SQL injection
  • Man-in-the-middle attacks
  • Zero-day exploit

Universities like other data controllers should make sure the data they process is secure. Moreover, they should have a high level of cybersecurity in place to reduce the risk of a breach. That said, breaches do happen. And when they do, your sensitive personal data could be unlawfully accessed.

An investigation would be launched by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The authority has the power to issue heavy fines. However, although the ICO enforces data breach law, the authority does not compensate victims of data breaches. If you want data breach compensation, you must begin legal proceedings yourself.

This is where Legal Expert can help you. An adviser will assess your case and if they find it is strong, they will connect you to one of our specialist No Win No Fee lawyers. Please get in touch today to find out if you can make a No Win No Fee data breach claim.

How You Could Be Compensated After A Data Breach

In the case, Vidal-Hall and others v Google Inc [2015] the Court ruled that people affected by a data breach can seek compensation for mental harm. They can do so even if they did not incur any sort of financial loss.

Prior to the ruling, a claimant could only seek compensation for mental harm if they suffered financial damage too. Now, people can seek compensation for either form of damage.

The type of mental harm you can seek compensation for include the following:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

The level of compensation awarded would depend on the severity of the mental harm you suffered, something we explore in our next section below.

If you lost out financially in a data breach, material damages can be included in a successful data breach claim. This could account for the likes of money taken from your bank accounts, identity theft, and damage to your credit ratings.

If you have any questions about the sort of compensation you could claim, please get in touch with a member of our team today. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation so we can review your case. Once an adviser finds you have a strong claim, we will connect you to one of our No Win No Fee solicitors.

University Data Protection Breach Compensation Calculator

You may like to know how much you could receive in a successful data breach claim for mental harm. As such, we have provided a table that offers an idea of the amounts paid out to claimants for mental harm.

The compensation amounts are based on the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Personal injury solicitors, courts as well as insurance providers refer to this document when valuing claims.

Edit
Harm suffered Severity Details Potential Compensation based on Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)
Psychological Harm Severe Claimants suffer severe psychological damage that is life-changing Post-traumatic stress disorder prevents claimants from leading a normal life. Long-term therapy and treatment together with medication may help recovery but the victim is likely to suffer over an extended period of time £51,460 to £108,620
Psychological Harm Moderate to severe Victims suffer moderate to severe psychological damage with Post-traumatic stress disorder negatively impacting their lives and well-being. A claimant’s ability to work, hold down a job or function normally is affected. Long-term treatment and therapy may help but claimant may suffer over a long and extended period of time £17,900 to £51,460
Psychological Harm Moderate Claimants suffer moderate psychological damage that prevents them from functioning normally and carry out day to day tasks. However, with treatment and therapy, the claimant would recover fully over time. £5,500 to £17,900
Psychological Harm Less severe Claimants suffer severe psychological damage that prevents them from working, leading a normal life and having normal relationships. Long-term therapy, treatment and medication may help recovery. But the claimant will likely suffer for some time Up to £5,500

The compensation amounts in our table are provided as a guideline. An adviser can review your claim to offer a better estimate on how much you could receive. As such, please get in touch with a member of the team today.

Check If You Can Claim With A Data Protection Solicitor

You have various options when looking for a solicitor. You could ask people for recommendations. Another option is to search for a solicitor online. You could also contact a local firm. However, you don’t have to use a local firm of solicitors. All communications can be done over the phone, by email, or by video conference, so you’re limiting your choices.

The best way to find the right lawyer to represent you is to check out their reviews, such as our own.

When you get in touch with Legal Expert, you will receive legal advice in a free, initial consultation. Moreover, if you decide not to go forward with a claim, you are not obliged to. When your case has been reviewed and found valid, an adviser will connect you with our specialist No Win No Fee solicitors.

The advantages of having a Legal Expert lawyer act on your behalf are:

  • The solicitor can be contacted any time of day
  • They will handle all aspects of your data breach claim from the outset
  • You will not have to pay an upfront fee and no ongoing fees either

Please contact an adviser today to find out how Legal Expert can help you make a successful data breach claim. Moreover, if you would like more information on data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton, an adviser is here to help.

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

No Win No Fee data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton offer you the chance to seek compensation without worrying about finances. When you sign a Conditional Fee Agreement (the formal name for a No Win No Fee agreement), you don’t have to:

  • Pay an upfront payment
  • No ongoing payments as your case moves forward

In short, you don’t have to find the money to pay a No Win No Fee lawyer upfront. You pay the solicitor when you win your case and the amount is deducted from the money awarded. You are then sent the balance. The success fee is a legally capped percentage that is set out in the agreement you sign.

If you lose your data breach claim, you don’t have to pay the success fee. You don’t have to pay other legal costs either. To find out if you can make a No Win No Fee data breach claim, please get in touch on the number below. For more information on data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton, please speak to an adviser today.

Talk To Our Team

If you would like more information about data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton, please get in touch with an adviser. If you are ready to begin your claim, a member of our team can be reached in the following ways.

Related Claims Services

Thanks for reading our guide to university data breach claims. Before we leave you, we wanted to provide you with some more resources you may find useful:

We’ve also linked to some other guides you may find useful:

The Information Commissioner’s Office complaints procedure

The 7 key principles of GDPR

Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)

Thanks for reading our guide to data breach claims against the University of Wolverhampton.

Guide by Wood

Edited by Billing

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    • 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.

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