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Simplify Group Suffer Cyber-Attack Leaving Customers at Risk of Data Breach

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A cyber-attack against a group of conveyancing brands owned by Simplify Group left thousands of home buyers unable to complete their purchases – as well as opening them up to the threat of a data breach.

In November, Simplify was forced to take down several of its online systems, preventing buyers and sellers from being unable to proceed or complete their transactions.

The cyber-attack affected several sub-brands of Simplify Group, including:
  • My Home Move
  • Move with us
  • Premier Property Lawyers
  • JS Law
  • DC Law
  • Advantage Property Lawyers
Customers from all of these brands were left in the dark, with their transactions being put on hold indefinitely while Simplify sought to restore its systems.

A spokesperson for Simplify has since informed that the company has now restored its IT systems sufficiently to enable clients to complete their property moves.

However, concerns have been raised by individuals who have noted that Simplify have been unable to confirm exactly how the incident took place and whether any personal data has been exposed.

This is especially concerning, as anyone effected by the incident will now be left waiting in limbo to discover whether or not they are also victims of a significant data breach.

Richard Forrest, Legal Director at Hayes Connor, commented on the matter, saying: “We have already been contacted by a number of people who are worried about the impact this could have on them at a time when they are already under a significant amount of stress. This obviously has added to that and just before Christmas as well.

“It’s well known that buying or selling a home is one of the most difficult times anyone can face so to be facing extra worry is something none of these people want. To make matters worse we are still unclear exactly what has happened and what data has been beached.

“Home moves involve a huge amount of personal data which can be very valuable to the wrong sort of people so Simplify have a duty to all of their customers to let people know what has happened, why and how exactly they have been affected, and to do so immediately. Any further delay will just add to the worry people are already suffering just when they least need that extra stress.”

If you receive confirmation that your data has been exposed by Simplify Group, or you have strong reason to believe that this is the case, you are likely to be owed compensation.

Hayes Connor have already had initial instructions from clients regarding the incident and are ready to advise anyone else who may have been affected by the Simplify Group data breach. To find out more about how you can make a claim, please get in touch.

What to do if you are concerned about the Simplify Group data breach

Simplify Group are yet to explicitly state whether personal data has been exposed following the security incident. However, if you are concerned that your data has indeed been exposed, you should get in touch with Simplify as soon as possible.

When your data is exposed in a breach, you should also be sure to remain extremely vigilant of any unexpected communications, particularly if they appear to be from Simplify. These could be ‘phishing’ attacks which are specifically designed to extract further information from you, such as your bank account details.

There are several ways to reduce the risk of cybercriminals using your personal data against you. To find out more about this, please read out helpful guide on what to do if your data has been stolen in a data breach.

If your data was exposed in the Simplify Group data breach, you may be entitled to claim compensation. This is something the team at Hayes Connor can help you with.

How Hayes Connor can help you claim compensation for the Simplify Group data breach

Organisations which hold your personal data are legally obligated to keep it secure and out of the hands of any unauthorised third parties. Failing to uphold this obligation, for any reason, could mean that affected individuals are entitled to claim compensation.

Hayes Connor has one of the largest teams of dedicated data breach specialists in the country. Our team have a wealth of combined expertise, which we put to use when it comes to taking you through the steps need to bring forward a claim.

First and foremost, we always make sure to get to grips with your personal situation, assessing whether you are likely to be owed compensation, how much you could be entitled to and how the claims process works.

We appreciate that being a victim of a data breach can be incredibly stressful. That’s why we are always sure to provide you with close personal support throughout the claims process, ensuring that everything remains as straightforward as possible.

You can find out more about our expertise and how we handle data breach claims here.

To start a claim, you can use our online claim form.

To speak to a member of our team about the Simplify Group data breach, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 041 5136.