Virgin Media Data Breach - Have you received an email?

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06 March, 2020

Leonie_Millard
Leonie Millard
Partner

A Virgin Media database containing the personal details of 900,000 people was left accessible online for 10 months.*

Virgin Media has confirmed that the database has now been shut down but has admitted that the information was accessed "on at least one occasion" by an unknown user. They also admitted that they are unsure as to whether any information was used and unsure as to the extent of the access.

The affected database, which was used for marketing purposes, did not include passwords or financial details but did contain personal information such as phone numbers, home addresses and email addresses of up to 900,000 people.

In a statement, Virgin Media confirmed that the breach was not due to a hack or a criminal attack, but because the database had been "incorrectly configured" by a member of staff not following correct procedures.

The firm was alerted to the breach on Friday after it was spotted by a security researcher at TurgenSec and immediately shut down access to the database.

All of those affected were Virgin customers with television or fixed-line telephone accounts however the database also included some Virgin Mobile customers as well as details of promotional customer referrals.

The company have made contact with all those affected and have issued an apology.

Virgin Media, which is owned by US cable group, Liberty Global, has informed the Information Commissioner's Office as required, and launched a forensic investigation.

If you have received an email from Virgin Media informing you of this data breach, contact our data breach claims team on 01254 872 111 or make an enquiry using our online enquiry form.

The way claims are calculated depends on the following:

  • Lower Band - £900 - £8,600 (less serious cases, one-off incident or isolated in nature.)
  • Middle Band - £8,600 - £25,700 (serious cases that do not fall within the higher band.)
  • Higher Band - £25,700 - £42,900 (lengthy campaign.)

Based on the information formally released in the media, potential damages are going to be £750 - £1,250 at this stage per claimant.

*https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51760510

For more information contact Leonie Millard in our Data Breach Claims department via email or phone on 01254 770517. Alternatively send any question through to Forbes Solicitors via our online Contact Form.

Learn more about our Data Breach Claims department here

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