If an individual discovers that a company has leaked their data under the UK GDPR, they should take several steps to protect themselves and address the situation:
1. **Document the Incident**: Keep records of any evidence related to the data breach, such as emails, notifications, or screenshots of any suspicious activity. Documentation will help support any claims or actions taken in response to the breach.
2. **Contact the Company**: Notify the company or organisation responsible for the data breach as soon as possible. They should have a designated Data Protection Officer or contact point for data breaches. Contacting the company allows them to take immediate action to investigate and mitigate the breach.
3. **Request Information**: Ask the company for details about the data breach, including the nature and extent of the information compromised, how the breach occurred, and what measures they are taking to address the situation.
4. **Monitor Financial Activity**: Keep a close eye on financial accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activity, such as unauthorised transactions or applications for credit in your name. Report any signs of identity theft or fraud to the relevant authorities.
5. **Be Aware of Phone & Email Fraud**: Leaked data is often sold on the Dark Web and used by fraudsters to contact you pretending to be your bank or a business in order to con you in to moving money in to their bank accounts, or to fool you in to letting them remotely take over your computer.. Immediately hang up any suspicious phone calls and report any attempts at fraud to the relevant authorities.
6. **Report to Regulatory Authorities**: If the data breach poses a risk to your rights and freedoms, consider reporting the incident to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection authority. The ICO oversees compliance with data protection laws and can investigate breaches to ensure appropriate action is taken.
7. **Seek Legal Advice**: Depending on the circumstances of the data breach and any harm or losses suffered as a result, consider seeking legal advice to understand your rights and options for seeking compensation or redress from the company responsible for the breach.
8. **Protect Your Personal Information**: Take steps to protect your personal information from further harm, such as changing passwords, enabling two-factor authentication where possible, and being cautious about sharing sensitive information online.
