Guntrader Suffer Data Breach as Customer Records are Published to Dark Web
Thousands of names and addresses belonging to customers of the firearms dealer Guntrader.uk have been published to the dark web following a cyber security incident.
Guntrader.uk learned about the extent of the breach on July 19, which has seen around 110,000 customer records stolen. The stolen data relates to people who own firearms, which creates a number of additional complications that extend beyond the immediate loss of privacy.
Christine Sabino, Legal Director at Hayes Connor, said of the incident: “This is hugely worrying for anyone who is affected or thinks they might be affected. We’ve already had worried gun owners contacting us about this and their fears are genuine. If their details have fallen into the hands of organised criminals, then they’re now concerned that their families and their properties could be targeted.
“Owning a gun is a huge responsibility but so too is keeping the data of gun owners safe and this is an incredibly serious data breach indeed. Guntrader.uk now needs to make sure it works closely with the relevant authorities.
“First and foremost, they need to make every single person who’s been affected aware that their data has been breached so they can ensure their own personal security. Then, they need to help the authorities in any other way possible. Clearly this couldn’t have happened and the questions as to how it has happened will rightly have to be answered. But the people affected and their safety must come first here.”
More than 50 owners have already contacted law firm Hayes Connor for support since the news first broke that the details of more than 110,000 gun owners had been accessed illegally through the data breach at website Guntrader.co.uk.
The breach has since seen home addresses postcodes, phone numbers, email and IP addresses shared by an animal rights activist, who urged followers to contact as many of the 110,000 people as possible to ‘ask if they are involved in shooting animals.’
Christine added: “This latest development just adds further to the worry that gun owners across the country have experienced since the news first emerged about this data breach several weeks ago.
“The owners we’ve been speaking to have had very genuine fears for their safety before this latest step so this will increase those fears even further. They will now be concerned that their homes and their families could be targeted by more extreme activists and will have to review their security measures again.
“We know that local police have been contacting owners with practical security advice and we’d hope anyone affected by this follows that guidance immediately but yet again, this shows the impact that inadequate data security can have on innocent people – in this case, 110,000 people who’ll be affected by this.”
Following the news of the breach, The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has urged for its members to be vigilant around home security.
Guntrader.uk have reported the breach to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). An investigation into the matter is currently being carried out by the South West Regional Cyber Crime Unit (SWRCCU), with assistance from the National Crime Agency (NCA).
If you have been contacted by Guntader.uk to inform you that your data has been exposed in the breach, or you have strong reason to believe that your data has been compromised, then you will likely have grounds to claim compensation.
The team at Hayes Connor are ready to advise anyone who has been affected by the Guntrader.uk data breach. To find out more about how you can make a claim, please get in touch.
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