Property service company Liberty has suffered a cyberattack. The business provides property services for housing associations, local authorities, and private companies. Liberty is part of social housing group ForViva, which manages homes on behalf of thousands of tenants across the North West.
ForHousing, which is also part of the ForViva group, was also a victim of the ransomware attack. However, ForViva claims that no tenant or staff data from its ForHousing’s systems were accessed. It does admit that ‘a small amount’ of data from Liberty was compromised in the ransomware attack.
The incident happened last month and has been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Following the attack ForHousing’s systems were temporarily taken offline as a ‘precautionary measure’.
Internal investigations into the cyberattack are now complete.
Commenting on the data security incident, ForViva group CEO Colette McKune said that the integrity of tenant and staff data was a priority. She also said that all tenants had been informed about the incident and confirmed that their data is safe.
What is ransomware?
A ransomware attack happens when criminals infect an organisation’s systems and prevent or limit access unless a ransom is paid. Ransom may also be requested to stop the criminals releasing sensitive data into the public domain.
Finding out that your personal data has been held hostage in a ransomware violation can be extremely distressing. Especially where you trusted an organisation to look after it.
Data has been found on the dark web
A threat analyst expert at anti-virus software company Emsisoft found data from ForViva published on the dark web. He said that the exfiltration of data represents a risk not only to the impacted organisations, but also to those to whom the information relates to.
At Keller Postman UK, we have seen how breached information is often used to commit further crimes against individuals. So it’s no wonder that people commonly suffer emotional anguish, anxiety, and stress after a ransomware data hack.
Our data breach lawyers help people to make successful ransomware claims to compensate for their loss and distress. Where enough people come forward, we do this by launching a group action case.
