What do we now know about the Cambian data breach?
November 28, 2023
Earlier this year, Cambian Group experienced a data breach. Almost a year on, here’s what we know about the Cambian data breach.
Vulnerable individuals are at risk because of the Cambian data breach, and many have experienced significant levels of distress. KP Law has launched a group action to help victims of this privacy violation claim compensation.
In January 2023, Cambian Group, which is one of the largest children’s social care providers in the UK, discovered “unauthorised activity” on its computer systems.
Cambian is owned by CareTech. It operates a network of hospitals, schools, and homes for children and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health conditions. Cambian currently looks after 2,100 children across the UK, and its services have a specific focus on individuals who present with high-severity needs. By the Bridge Fostering – part of the Cambian Group – is also affected by this data security incident.
The AvosLocker ransomware gang, which has been flagged as a threat by the FBI, is thought to be behind the attack.
KP Law has launched an investigation to find out how this data privacy breach was allowed to happen, and how the security incident affects those who use Cambian’s services.
If you are affected by the Cambian data breach, join our no-win, no-fee action and claim compensation for this data protection failure. Because of the nature of this breach, and the sensitivities involved, we can represent you anonymously, and speak on your behalf.
*As of 25 April 2023
A significant amount of personal data – including sensitive special category health data – has been put up for sale online. This includes:
Including names, dates of birth, home addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses.
Including telephone numbers, and email addresses.
Such as Educational Health Care Plan reports, GP records, medical notes, diagnosis, and referrals to other medical professions.
Including names, sort codes, and account numbers.
The fact that this data could be sold and bought by cybercriminals is extremely worrying.
Teachers and other workers within Cambian’s schools are also affected by this data breach. And, almost four months after the data security breach, By the Bridge Fostering – part of the Cambian Group – wrote to former foster parents with more information. According to a Data Incident Notification sent to affected individuals, the stolen data includes:
Worryingly, Cambian admits that further data could also be affected.
Cambian has written to those affected to make them aware of this attack. However, despite becoming aware of the incident at the start of 2023, Cambian took two months to inform those affected by the breach.
At KP Law, we have seen victims of similar data breaches become the target of cybercriminals, with instances of phishing, fraud, and identity theft. Some victims of this breach have already experienced fraudulent transactions. By failing to take sufficient steps to notify all those involved immediately, Cambian left them exposed as they were not given the opportunity to protect themselves. This adds to the victims’ worry now that they have found out about the breach.
Our data protection experts strongly advise anyone involved in this breach to be vigilant and take necessary precautions.
REGISTER TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CAMBIAN DATA BREACH GROUP ACTION.
Talk to our expert data breach lawyers today on 0151 459 5850
Earlier this year, Cambian Group experienced a data breach. Almost a year on, here’s what we know about the Cambian data breach.
Find our answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we have received about joining our data breach group action.
Cambian Group – has written to former foster parents with more information about the By the Bridge data breach.
In January 2023, Cambian Group discovered “unauthorised activity” on its computer systems. Cambian is “now working with third party IT experts who are continuing to investigate the incident and ascertain what data has been compromised.”
Cambian immediately took its systems offline after discovering the hack. It also reported the attack to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the National Cyber-Security Centre, the National Crime Agency, local authorities, and its regulators.
The stolen information relates to Cambian students, their parents and next of kin. Personal, medical and financial information was compromised and has since been found for sale on the dark web. In April 2023, Cambian wrote to former foster parents to confirm their involvement in the data breach.
Teachers and other workers within Cambian’s schools are also affected.
Cambian should have informed those affected by the incident. Anyone involved in this data protection failure should immediately take steps to protect themselves.
It is unlikely that cybercriminals would have accessed Cambian’s systems if robust data security processes had been in place. As such, Cambian must be held accountable for any losses and distress experienced.
A group action claim is where a group of people – sometimes even thousands of people – have been affected by the same issue. Group action cases are also known as class actions, multi-claimant, or multi-party actions.
We expect our confidential medical data to be taken care of. But the UK health sector accounts for nearly half of all data breaches, and as our health and social care system becomes increasingly digital, there are concerns that the robust protections required are simply not in place.
Data privacy is often being treated as an afterthought, and while no one wants to sue those working in the sector, making a claim is sometimes the only way to force improvements in data security. It is also worth mentioning that such organisations should be insured against compensation claims.
There are no costs to join a claim. However, if your claim is successful, you may have to pay a ‘success fee’. This fee is taken from the compensation awarded to you. At KP Law, our success fee is competitive, and we make sure you are fully informed about any potential costs before you officially join our action. If you lose, you won’t have to pay a penny.
Following the Cambian data breach, KP Law launched a group action to help victims of this privacy violation claim compensation. Here’s a guide to the Cambian data breach to help you find out if you have a claim, and what you need to do to secure justice for the violation of your data protection rights.
In January 2023, Cambian Group, which is one of the largest children’s social care providers in the UK, discovered “unauthorised activity” on its computer systems. The AvosLocker ransomware gang, which has been flagged as a threat by the FBI, is thought to be behind the attack.
Typically, AvosLocker campaigns used a remote administration tool to access and infect victim machines. The group was known for employing a double extortion strategy. First it would steal data, and then it would encrypt it. AvosLocker would then instruct the victim to pay the ransom to retrieve the decryption key. If payment is not made, AvosLocker would put the data up for sale.
It is unlikely that cybercriminals would have accessed Cambian’s systems if robust data security processes had been in place. As such, Cambian must be held accountable for any harm, loss and distress experienced.
Following the Cambian data breach, some victims have experienced fraudulent transactions and had to change their payment cards and secure their bank accounts. But even if no money is lost, the impact of a data breach can be significant. Many victims suffer from stress, anxiety and distress due to living with the added risk and the extra vigilance needed.
In this case, the potential harm to victims is especially severe. A significant amount of personal data – including sensitive special category health data – was stolen and put up for sale online. The highly sensitive information exposed in this hack included home addresses, contact numbers, and email addresses. Some medical information was compromised in this attack. This included Educational Health Care Plan reports, GP records, medical notes, diagnosis, and referrals to other medical professions. Foster parent applications were also breached (By the Bridge Fostering, which is part of the Cambian Group, was also affected by this data security incident).
Vulnerable individuals are at risk – including foster children – and many have experienced significant levels of distress because of the breach.
Despite becoming aware of the incident at the start of 2023, Cambian took two months to inform those affected by the breach. By failing to take sufficient steps to notify all those involved immediately, Cambian left them exposed as they were not given the opportunity to protect themselves. This added to the victims’ worry once they found out about the breach. In response, as mentioned in the Times, Cambian is now under fire for its response to this cyberattack.
Our data protection solicitors have listed some helpful links to ensure victims of the Cambian data breach know where they can turn.
The leading independent victim’s charity in England and Wales for people affected by crime and traumatic incidents.
If you are struggling emotionally after a data breach, you can call the Samaritans free from any phone.
Advice, information, onward referral, and holistic support to people experiencing mental ill-health and drug/alcohol difficulties (which could be exacerbated following the Cambian hack). The service can also support people who have been a victim of crime.
Victims of online offences such as scams and financial/identity fraud following the Cambian data hack should contact Action Fraud to report their loss.
A source of unbiased, factual, and easy-to-understand information on online safety with guidance to protect you from fraud, identity theft and abuse.
Impartial advice to help everyone in the UK protect themselves against financial fraud.
At KP Law, we know that choosing a data breach solicitor can be daunting. How do you know if it is the right firm for you, and can you be sure that you will not have to pay any unforeseen costs? To make the process less daunting, here are some questions you should ask when choosing a Cambian data breach lawyer.
Data breach and cybercrime are relatively new and evolving areas of law, so it can be difficult to find specialist Cambian data breach lawyers. At KP Law, we have a dedicated team of data protection experts. Furthermore, because we understand the minutiae of data breach law, we know what it takes to make a successful data breach claim. Over the past few years, our data breach solicitors have been at the forefront of data breach legal services. And, because we have been doing this for longer than most, we lead our field when it comes to understanding the complexities involved.
Many firms will offer their services on a no-win, no-fee basis. In such cases, if you do not win, you do not have to pay a penny. But it is also worth looking at what you will be charged if you win. Because if your claim is successful, you will have to contribute towards your Cambian data breach lawyer’s costs. This ‘success fee’ is taken from the compensation awarded to you, and in some cases, it can be much higher than you expected. Our success fee is one of the most competitive around, and there are no hidden fees or admin charges. We also take out insurance to protect our clients from any legal costs.
A group action allows people to bring their claims together to strengthen their overall position and increase their chances of success. As such, we believe that a group action is the best way to claim Cambian compensation.
Several UK firms have knowledge of multi-claimant litigation, but it is worth checking to see if they have specifically managed multiple data breach group actions. Because when it comes to winning cases, understanding the law is only half the battle; you also need experience.
At KP Law, we are currently managing several significant data breach group actions. And we have secured settlements against big players such as British Airways and Ticketmaster.
Cambian has written to those affected to make them aware of this attack. To join our action, you need notification confirming your involvement in the breach. We will also ask you for some other evidence to ensure we make the strongest possible claim on your behalf. This includes:
Some of our clients have seen a rise in attempted phishing scams since the Cambian data hack. If you have experienced phishing, or other scam attempts, that you believe are linked to this data breach, please make a note of these, and keep any evidence.
If you have experienced any financial loss because of this data breach, please make a note of this and keep any evidence (e.g. bank statements, correspondence, etc.). If your financial data wasn’t breached, you could still have lost money if a phishing scammer has used the personal data stolen in this breach against you.
If you have experienced emotional distress because of this data breach, please make a note of this and keep any evidence (e.g. details about medical appointments/prescriptions that relate to this data breach).
Following a data breach, people often have to spend a significant amount of time on the phone with their bank and credit reference agencies. Sometimes, there are travel costs and medical expenses required. And it might be possible to add these to your claim.
It is not unusual that – on reviewing a data breach impact form – we uncover information that allows us to increase the value of a claim significantly. What might seem irrelevant to you could make a massive difference in the eyes of the law. So please keep a hold of anything that might be useful.
We are one of the most experienced multi-claimant law firms in the UK.
Our GDPR, data breach and cybercrime specialists have a combined experience of over 50 years.
We represent clients in group actions with innovation, resources, and expertise.
We work with expert barristers to ensure you get the very best level of legal support available.
We have all the resources and global expertise necessary to take on complicated cases and win.
We have offices in London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham, and the technology to provide a nationwide service to clients across England & Wales.
We use technology to deliver a better legal experience to our clients.
We work on a no-win, no-fee basis.
We make the process straightforward and hassle-free.
While each case is judged on its own merits, there are some things we would typically look for when it comes to when claiming compensation following a data breach, cybercrime or other GDPR violation:
With stolen data, cybercriminals can make purchases using your bank and credit cards, apply for credit in your name, set up fraudulent bank accounts and access your existing online accounts.
GDPR failures, cybercrime and data breaches can have a significant impact on you, both mentally and physically. They can cause or exacerbate anxiety, stress and other psychological conditions.
KP Law has some of the most skilled data breach lawyers in England and Wales. Here are just some of our success stories.
KP Law is a founding member of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association (CORLA). CORLA aims to improve access to justice for claimants by way of collective redress.