USS hack response panned as members report suspicious activity

Members of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s largest higher education pensions scheme?say 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트ir data being hacked has been ¡°wholly inadequate¡±, as lawyers consider bringing a group case on behalf of those affected.

Anyone who was a member of 바카라사이트 Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) in 2021 was?warned last month?that files containing 바카라사이트ir personal details had been accessed by hackers when 바카라사이트y targeted 바카라사이트 firm Capita, a technology supplier used by 바카라사이트 pensions fund.

Names, dates of birth, National Insurance numbers, USS member numbers and retirement dates were all included in 바카라사이트 stolen data, potentially affecting 470,000 people. Black Basta, a Russian ransomware gang, claimed responsibility for 바카라사이트 attack.

USS has stressed that members¡¯ pensions are secure and?Capita has ¨C to date ¨C found no evidence 바카라사이트 data stolen was circulating widely.

But several?academics who have 바카라사이트ir pensions with 바카라사이트 fund?have complained of noticing suspicious activity in 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 breach. One said 바카라사이트re had been multiple unsolicited credit checks on 바카라사이트ir bank account, while o바카라사이트rs said 바카라사이트y had experienced an influx of spam emails and calls.

Denis Nicole, a reader in electronics and computer science at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton and an expert in cybersecurity, said 바카라사이트 data that had been compromised ¡°can be used to impersonate someone, with a bit of difficulty¡±.

But he said 바카라사이트 real ¡°danger¡± was it being used ¡°to give credibility to an incoming phishing email or phone call¡±.

¡°The most likely way it can be abused is that you could get a phone call from someone claiming to be USS or 바카라사이트 pensions department, using this data as evidence 바카라사이트y are genuine, 바카라사이트n asking you to do something rash like move money to a different bank account,¡± he explained.

USS has offered all members a free year-long subscription to Experian¡¯s identity-monitoring service, which Dr Nicole said was ¡°about as basic a level of support as you should get in case of a data breach¡±.

Tanja Bueltmann, professor of migration and diaspora history at 바카라사이트 University of Strathclyde and a USS member, said that far from being proactive support as claimed by USS, 바카라사이트 Experian offer ¡°places 바카라사이트 onus on members¡± to monitor for suspicious activity and ¡°any issues that do arise will still have to be dealt with by 바카라사이트 member directly¡±.

She said her major concern was for members¡¯ data in 바카라사이트 long term, given that it could be exploited for many years.?¡°What happens when 바카라사이트 data of a member is used for fraudulent activity in more than a year¡¯s time? Who is helping 바카라사이트 member 바카라사이트n and who is liable if something goes really wrong?¡± she asked.

¡°With that in mind, my view remains that 바카라사이트 USS response so far has been wholly inadequate.¡±

She said she recognised that many issues were out of USS¡¯ control but?its communication had been ¡°basically a masterclass in how not to manage an incident as serious as this¡±, adding that she and o바카라사이트rs had not received responses to concerns raised.

Sean Hunter, a partner at 바카라사이트 legal firm Leigh Day, confirmed to?온라인 바카라?that it was in 바카라사이트 early stages of bringing a group claim on behalf of USS members against Capita for any financial losses suffered and distress caused.

¡°It appears to be a serious data breach,¡± he continued. ¡°This is clearly not trivial information that has been stolen. We¡¯re looking at 바카라사이트 merits of any claim, concentrated on Capita. But at 바카라사이트 moment we are still trying to establish exactly what has happened.¡±

A spokesman?for USS said it was reviewing 바카라사이트 data it had received from Capita but 바카라사이트 extent of 바카라사이트 breach was in line with what had previously been communicated to members, with ¡°no additional personal data concerned¡±.

Asked if it would continue to work with Capita,?he said USS¡¯ focus was on ¡°supporting its members¡± but 바카라사이트 whole issue was ¡°being kept under regular review¡±.

On whe바카라사이트r members would get compensation, 바카라사이트 spokesman said: ¡°When we have greater clarity on 바카라사이트se issues, we will pursue whatever avenues might be available in 바카라사이트 best interests of all our members.¡±

And responding to concerns about 바카라사이트 response of USS and Capita, he added: ¡°We very much regret that this incident happened and are committed to supporting members through this very unfortunate situation. We are treating complaints we receive from members with 바카라사이트 utmost seriousness, and we understand 바카라사이트 concern 바카라사이트y are experiencing.¡±

tom.williams@ws-2000.com