A Complete Unknown
£9.99The Ministry of Justice has announced that a large amount of private data, including criminal records, was hacked from the Legal Aid online system. This cyber-attack on the Legal Aid Agency’s online services was discovered on April 23 and the data in question dates back to 2010. Initially thought to be a small breach, the Ministry later realized that the extent of the attack was much larger than originally thought.
Jane Harbottle, the agency’s chief executive, issued an apology for the breach and acknowledged that the news would be unsettling for many individuals. The group responsible for the attack claimed to have obtained 2.1 million pieces of data, according to the PA news agency. However, this figure has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.
In light of this breach, the Ministry has advised individuals who have applied for legal aid during the affected period to take precautionary measures to protect themselves. The compromised data may include contact information, addresses, dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal histories, employment statuses, and financial details such as contribution amounts, debts, and payments. The public has been urged to remain vigilant for any suspicious activity, such as unknown messages or phone calls, and to update any passwords that might have been exposed.
The Ministry of Justice is collaborating with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre in response to this incident. Additionally, it has informed the Information Commissioner about the breach. As a result of the cyber-attack, the Legal Aid Agency’s online services, which are used by legal aid providers to log their work and receive government payments, have been temporarily taken offline. This attack is part of a series of recent cyber-attacks that have caused widespread disruption, with companies like Harrods, Marks & Spencer, and the Co-op also falling victim to similar incidents in recent months
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