UK's Legal Aid Agency Discloses Data Breach Following April Cyber Attack
The UK's Legal Aid Agency (LAA) has confirmed that a cyberattack on its systems in April resulted in the theft of sensitive data, including personal information of legal aid applicants dating back to 2010.
The LAA suffered a cyberattack on its systems on April 23, according to the agency. Following the incident, the UK Legal Aid Agency acted swiftly to enhance system security and notified legal aid providers of a possible data breach. The agency investigated the security breach with the help of the National Crime Agency and National Cyber Security Centre.
On May 16, it was revealed that the breach was more extensive than initially believed, with hackers accessing and downloading sensitive personal data of legal aid applicants since 2010. The agencies notified the authorities and took immediate action to bolster the security of their systems.
"On Friday 16 May we discovered the attack was more extensive than originally understood and that the group behind it had accessed a large amount of information relating to legal aid applicants," reads an update published by the agency. "We believe the group has accessed and downloaded a significant amount of personal data from those who applied for legal aid through our digital service since 2010."
Downloaded data may have included contact details and addresses of applicants, their dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment status, and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts, and payments. The agency has assured that it is taking all necessary steps to safeguard the service and its users.
"I understand this news will be shocking and upsetting for people and I am extremely sorry this has happened," said Jane Harbottle, Chief Executive Officer of the Legal Aid Agency. "Since the discovery of the attack, my team has been working around the clock with the National Cyber Security Centre to bolster the security of our systems so we can safely continue the vital work of the agency."
"However, it has become clear that to safeguard the service and its users, we needed to take radical action," added Harbottle. "That is why we've taken the decision to take the online service down. We have put in place the necessary contingency plans to ensure those most in need of legal support and advice can continue to access the help they need during this time."
The UK Legal Aid Agency has joined a growing list of high-profile victims in a recent surge of cyberattacks, including Harrods, Marks & Spencer, and the Co-op, which faced system disruptions, financial losses, and operational setbacks.