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University Of Worcester Data Breach Compensation Claims Guide – How Much Compensation Can I Claim? – Amounts For University Of Worcester Data Breach

Your Right To Make A University Data Breach Claim

Welcome to our guide to data breach claims against the University of Worcester. Below, we look at the situations in which a privacy breach could happen and the rights you have if you’re affected.

The breach could be intentional, criminal, or accidental. Data breaches don’t have to be cyber-attacks either. A breach could happen when physical files are not locked away and other people can read sensitive information they should not have access to.

University of Worcester data breach claims guide

University of Worcester data breach claims guide

Universities process a vast amount of data from students, staff and alumni. Cybercriminals and hackers target universities because many of the institutions carry out important research. As such, robust security protocols must be in place to reduce the risk of a breach. Under data protection law, such as the Data Protection Act 2018, universities must make sure the personal data they collect, process and hold is done so securely.

If it can be shown the University of Worcester failed in its legal duty and your personal information was exposed, you could sue for compensation if you go on to suffer financial or emotional damage.

When a breach occurs, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) needs to be told of the incident so they can investigate it. If the authority finds the university breached data protection law, they can issue a fine.

Below, we set out your legal rights. We go into the rules set out in the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. In the following sections, you will find information on the sort of damages you could seek. Moreover, we explain how compensation is calculated.

How A No Win No Fee Lawyer Can Help You

In the last sections of our guide, we provide information on how to find the right No Win No Fee solicitor. Moreover, we explain how Conditional Fee Agreements work to your benefit.

For more information on data breach claims involving the University of Worcester, please click on the sections below. If you would like to discuss a data breach claim with an adviser, please reach out to a member of our team on 0800 073 8804. All calls are free of charge.

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A Guide On Data Breach Claims Against The University Of Worcester

Cyber-criminals frequently target universities. And reports show that cyber-crime is on the rise. That said, laws are in place to protect personal information. Organisations that collect and process data are known as data controllers. They must abide by the rules. A university is also a data controller which means they must protect the data they process.

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 set out stringent rules. These rules cover how personal information can be used and processed. These laws provide you (the data subject) more control over how your information is handled and gives you recourse if your rights are infringed upon.

Our guide specifically covers data breach claims against the University of Worcester. We explain your right to seek compensation under data protection law. Furthermore, we provide advice on when to contact the ICO. This is the authority that enforces data breach law. We also explain the role of the ICO in investigating an incident.

The Consequences of a University Data Breach

You will also find information on how a data breach could affect you. Whether your personal information is destroyed, altered, disclosed, lost, or sold, the consequences can leave you vulnerable. You could incur financial losses. You may suffer mental harm. Regardless, of how a data breach happened, you could sue for compensation if you can prove the breach impacted you financially or mentally.

If you are worried about paying for legal representation, our guide offers advice on how one of our No Win No Fee lawyers could act on your behalf. Furthermore, we explain how one of our advisers can provide an initial consultation that is free of charge. You won’t have to go forward with a claim if you don’t want to. As such, please contact a member of the Legal Expert team on the number shown above.

Data Breach Claims Against the University of Worcester Time Limits

Data breach claims have different time limits to personal injury claims. You have 6 years from the date you obtained knowledge of the breach to make a claim against the University of Worcester or other responsible organisation. If your human rights are impacted by a breach, the deadline is 1 year.

If you were the victim of a university data breach, please contact an adviser to find out which time limit applies to your case. We provide free legal advice on data breach claims.

What Is A Data Breach By Worcester University?

Universities routinely process a large volume of data. This includes information on students, staff, donors, alumni, and anyone linked to the institution. The University of Worcester is no different.

When you connect to the university, they will collect and process your personal information. Some of the data could be sensitive, like medical history. Like all data controllers, the University of Worcester must follow the rules laid out by data protection law. They must set in place robust online and offline security protocols.

However, data breaches happen. The results for all concerned can be far-reaching. But it’s possible to take steps to rectify the situation and be compensated for the damage done. The laws that govern data protection are:

  • The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)
  • The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
  • The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

Should a university fail in their duty to protect your data, or they are not GDPR compliant, they could be in breach of UK data protection law. An example of a serious data breach is:

A lot of UK universities were negatively impacted by this breach. Blackbaud was contracted by a number of UK universities and organisations to handle private data on their behalf. Cyber-criminals managed to access Blackbaud’s databases, however, stealing personal data and user passwords. The hackers held Blackbaud to ransom. The organisation paid, the data said to have been destroyed, but questions remain.

Some of the universities impacted by the hack were:

If you have evidence that your data has been breached by Blackbaud and want free legal advice on your rights, get in touch with our team on the number at the top of this page.

How Data Breaches By A University May Happen

A data breach does not necessarily involve cyber-criminals. A breach can happen offline too. No matter how a breach happens, whether criminally, accidentally, or criminally, a university would be held liable.

Some of the most common causes of data breaches are:

  • Staff accidentally exposing personal information to others, or they make a mistake when sending our correspondence such as letters and emails
  • Malicious attacks typically carried out by hackers and cyber-criminals

Were you the victim of a university data breach? Please contact a member of the Legal Expert team to find out if you have a valid data breach claim.

Accidental Data Breaches Involving Universities

Accidental data breaches are common. Employees and staff make mistakes or the breach happens because of an oversight. Your personal data could be sent to unauthorised people or published in error.

Some examples of accidental data breaches are:

  • Emails that contain private data being sent to the wrong recipients
  • Electronic devices like USB sticks ad laptops being stolen and not encrypted
  • Personal data is published in error
  • Computer screens left on which allows other people to view the personal data of others

Malicious Data Breaches Involving Universities

Universities must have data protection protocols in place so information is kept secure. Moreover, cyber-security must be robust to reduce the risk of a breach happening. Personal data contained in physical files must be kept secure and locked away.

With all the security in place, hackers and cyber-criminals succeed in accessing data by finding vulnerabilities in a system. Cyber-criminals also trick employees into sharing sensitive data.

Malicious attacks against universities often include the following:

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

The Consequences of a university data breach

A data breach could have far-reaching consequences for all concerned. However, you may not know your personal information is exposed until you are told of a breach. You may start receiving weird text messages and phone calls. The sort of problems you could face include:

  • Cyber-criminals getting hold of your sensitive financial data
  • Your home address and private phone number being sold to other cyber-criminals
  • Financial losses such as credit cards being used
  • Fraud
  • Identity theft

A data breach could leave you suffering from a psychological injury. When your privacy is compromised, you could start feeling vulnerable. This could lead to panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. You could even develop Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

For more information on data breach claims involving the University of Worcester, please get in touch. One of our expert advisers will review your case in a no-obligation consultation which is free of charge.

GDPR Policies And Personal Data Breaches

Organisations that collect and process data should follow the 7 key principles of data protection law. This lays out how data controllers should act, and how your personal data is processed. When there is a breach because a university failed to comply with the principles, you could seek compensation.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) will investigate the university data breach to find out how it happened. That said, the university should carry out an internal investigation and let you know its outcome.

If the ICO find the university is non-compliant with data protection law, they will issue a penalty. The fine can be substantial too. However, although the ICO enforces data protection law in the UK, the authority does not deal with data breach claims. Nor does the ICO award compensation to victims. If you want compensation, you must start private legal proceedings against the university.

To find out whether you have grounds to sue for compensation, please call an adviser today. If you do, a member of our team will connect you to one of our experienced data breach lawyers.

What Universities Have Had A Data Security Breach?

A number of UK universities have been targeted by cyber-criminals in recent times. However, some of the breaches were due to human error and not cyber-crimes. One of the most serious breaches involved the cloud service provider Blackbaud.

Another example of a university data breach involved the University of Greenwich. The Information Commissioner’s Office issued a £120,000 fine to the university because the breach was deemed ‘serious’. The personal data accessed in the breach included:

  • Names and addresses
  • Phone numbers
  • Signatures
  • Dates of birth
  • Physical problems
  • Mental health issues

To find out if you can sue for compensation for a university data breach, please get in touch today. We provide a free, no-obligation consultation that allows us to review your case.

Cybersecurity Breach Statistics And Trends

A recent survey carried out by the security firm Redscan found that over half of universities in the UK had reported a data breach over a 12 month period. Of the 86 universities that responded to the Freedom of Information request, 54% had contacted the ICO to report a breach. Furthermore, the survey found that most of the universities said they were ill-prepared to deal with cyber-attacks.

The Redscan survey found the following:

  • 46% staff members were provided with awareness training
  • Universities spend just  an average of £7,529 per year on educating their staff in cyber-security
  • 52% of students were proactively offered security training
  • 37% of universities provided students with resources when asked

To find out if you can sue for data breach compensation, please get in touch. An adviser can review your claim in a no-obligation consultation. Once your claim is assessed, a member of our team can connect you with one of our No Win No Fee lawyers.

Breaches In Cybersecurity

Many universities carry out important research which makes them targets for cyber-criminals. The stolen research is sold to other cyber-criminals. In short, it is becoming a lucrative business. The sort of cyber-attacks that routinely target universities in the UK and around the world include:

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

Universities should make sure the data they collect and process is kept secure. They should have a high level of online and offline security in place as well. However, data breaches happen all too frequently. The consequence is personal data is unlawfully accessed. The university would be responsible if a breach occurs and the Information Commissioner’s Office can issue a heavy fine.

The ICO has the power to issue penalties to a university if there is a breach. The authority will launch an investigation but the ICO does not award compensation to victims. To claim data breach compensation, you must start private legal proceedings against the university.

Legal Expert can help you make a successful data breach claim. Firstly, your claim will be reviewed. Secondly, our No Win No Fee lawyers will get to work on your case. For free legal advice on data breach claims against the University of Worcester, please get in touch today.

How Could A Data Breach Claim Be Valued?

When it comes to valuing a data breach claim the severity of the mental harm you suffered and how serious the breach was would be taken into account. That said, in a recent data breach case heard in the Court of Appeal, a new precedent was set.

The case was Vidal-Hall and others v Google Inc [2015] and the Court ruled that victims of data breaches can seek non-material (mental harm) damages as well as material (financial harm) damages. However, claimants can seek non-material damages even if they do not incur any financial losses.

Before this ruling, you could only claim material damages in successful data breach claims. However, with this ruling you can claim non-material damages for the mental harm a data breach caused you. And, you can do so even if you did not incur a financial loss. The Court also recommended that the amounts awarded should be in line with personal injury law and based on the Judicial College Guidelines

The sort of mental harm covered includes:

  • Distress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

The amount awarded would depend on how severely you were impacted by the breach. Moreover, you would be awarded a greater amount if:

  • You incurred financial losses
  • Suffer from anxiety
  • Develop depression
  • Have to cope with the symptoms of PTSD

Please get in touch with a member of our team who can answer any questions you have about data breach claims involving the University of Worcester.

How Much Could I Claim If My University Breached The Data Protection Act?

The value of a data breach claim would depend on the severity of the breach and how it has affected you. The amounts in our table are based on personal injury law and taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG). Insurers, courts, and personal injury lawyers use the JCG to place a value on injuries claimants suffer.

Edit
Mental harm suffered Severity Notes Compensation based on Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)
Psychological damage Severe Claimants suffer severe psychological damage that is life-changing. Their lives are negatively impacted. Claimants are unable to work or hold down a job due to the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Long-term therapy and treatment as well as medication may help a claimant’s recovery. However, the prognosis is poor and claimants are expected to suffer psychological damage over a long period of time £51,460 to £108,620
Psychological damage Moderate to severe Claimants suffer moderate to severe psychological damage that negatively impacts their ability to work and to lead a normal life. Long-term treatment, therapy together with medication may help recovery but claimant is expected to suffer over an extended period of time £17,900 to £51,460
Psychological damage Moderate Claimants suffer moderate psychological damage and their symptoms prevents them from functioning normally as they did prior to being a victim of a data breach. That said, with treatment, therapy and medication, a claimant is expected to make a full recovery over time £5,500 to £17,900
Psychological damage Less severe Mild symptoms that resolve in full within a short period of time. Up to £5,500

For a more accurate estimate, please contact a member of our team. They can review your case in a no-obligation consultation which is free of charge.

Can I Claim Compensation For A Breach In Data Protection?

When you are looking for the right solicitor you could ask for recommendations, or you could get in touch with a local firm. That said, you don’t have to use a solicitor local to you. Communication with a solicitor can be done by video conference, email, or over the phone. The best way to find the right lawyer to act on your behalf is to check out solicitor reviews.

At Legal Expert, we pride ourselves on providing a high-quality service to all people who contact us. Furthermore, we provide a no-obligation, initial consultation which is free of charge. This allows an experienced adviser the chance to review your claim and answer any questions you have. Following this, a member of our team will connect you to a No Win No Fee solicitor.

The benefits of working with a No Win No Fee lawyer include the following:

  • You can get in touch with the solicitor any time for an update on your case
  • The solicitor will deal with every aspect of your data breach claim
  • You don’t have to worry about paying for their services upfront

To find out how a Legal Expert lawyer can assist you, please contact a member of our team on the number below. An adviser will provide more information regarding data breach claims against the University of Worcester.

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

People can make No Win No Fee data breach claims against the University of Worcester provided their case has merit. This form of agreement provides claimants with the chance to seek compensation without financial risk. This is because when you sign a No Win No Fee agreement (also known as a Conditional Fee Agreement), the solicitor undertakes to represent you without charging upfront or ongoing fees.

You only pay a No Win No Fee solicitor if you win your case. A small success fee is deducted from the amount awarded. The success fee is legally capped. It is an agreed percentage set out in the No Win No Fee agreement.

If your data breach compensation claim is unsuccessful, you don’t pay the success fee nor any other fees to your lawyer. There would be no other court costs to pay either.

For more advice and information on how No Win No Fee agreements can work to your advantage, please call a member of our team today. Also, an adviser can answer any questions you have about data breach claims against the University of Worcester.

Contact An Expert Solicitor

For more advice and information about data breach claims against the University of Worcester, please get in touch with a member of the Legal Expert team. If you would like to begin your claim, you can reach an experienced adviser in the following ways.

Related Services

External links to advice and support

Making a complaint to the ICO:

The Information Commissioner’s Office complaints procedure

The principles of GDPR explained:

The 7 key principles of GDPR

The Data Protection Act 2018 rules:

Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018)

More Legal Expert Guides

The No Win No Fee Claims Process:

No Win No Fee Claims

Working with a No Win No Fee Solicitor:

Guide to No Win No Fee Solicitors

The process of making a data breach claim against your employer:

Employer Data Breach Claims

Other Useful Data Breach Guides

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

Guide by Wood

Edited by Billing

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