Southern Water Data Breach

If you have been affected by the Southern Water data breach, our specialist data breach solicitors at Hayes Connor can help. Our industry-leading experience and expertise will help you to secure the compensation you deserve. To find out more about how you can make a claim for the Southern Water data breach, please fill in our simple online enquiry form.

In early 2024, Southern Water, one of the nation’s largest water suppliers, was the victim of a significant cyber-attack that compromised the personal data of its customers.

Hackers gained unauthorised access to Southern Water’s IT systems, resulting in the theft of sensitive information from a portion of their server estate. Although the breach occurred in January, Southern Water only became aware of it once the company’s name surfaced on the dark web on February 12th.

The impact of the breach was substantial. Southern Water has estimated that between 5-10% of its customer base may have been affected, meaning that there are potentially millions of individuals whose personal information has been exposed.

A further statement has suggested that current and former employee data may also have been leaked. Unfortunately, this only serves to emphasise the severity of the breach.

Recent quotes from Southern Water indicate that, since the initial leak, “no new evidence of the data potentially involved in the cyber incident [has been] published online. [We] will continue to carry out checks for as long as is necessary. We are making contact with anyone whose personal data may be at risk”.

Following the incident, Southern Water reported the incident to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and other relevant authorities. They have been working closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to investigate the full extent of the attack and mitigate its consequences.

While Southern Water has not publicly confirmed exactly what personal data was impacted, it has been suggested that this data includes:

• Names
• Dates of birth
• National Insurance numbers
• Bank account numbers and sort codes
• Reference numbers

For current and former employees, the compromised data may also include HR and identity documents.

If your personal information has been exposed in the Southern Water data breach, you may be in a position to make a claim for compensation. This is something the team at Hayes Connor can help you with.

We have a dedicated team of data breach specialists who are ready to support anyone who may have been affected by the Southern Water data breach. When instructed, our team will be able to provide tailored guidance on whether you will be in a position to make a claim and what the Capita data breach compensation process will involve.

To find out more about how you can make a claim for the Southern Water data breach, please fill in our simple online enquiry form.

What to do if you are concerned about the Southern Water data breach

If your personal information has been exposed in the Southern Water data breach, you should be properly informed by the company. Southern Water has stated that they are making contact with anyone whose personal data may be at risk in accordance with their regulatory obligations.

If Southern Water has not contacted you and you are concerned that your information has been exposed in the data breach, you should get in touch them as soon as possible to confirm the status of your data.

It is especially important to remain vigilant of any unexpected communications, especially if they appear to be from Southern Water or other companies claiming to be involved in the data breach. These could be phishing attacks specifically designed to extract further personal information from you.

There are plenty of ways to reduce the potential risk of cybercriminals using your personal data against you. If you are interested in learning more about this, please read our helpful guide on what to do if your data has been stolen in a data breach.

If your data has been stolen in the Southern Water data breach, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Our data breach experts at Hayes Connor can support you, explain your right to compensation, and guide you through the whole claims process.

Can I get compensation for the Southern Water data breach?

It is highly likely that you will be able to make a claim for data breach compensation if your data was compromised in the Southern Water data breach. You do not necessarily need to prove that you suffered any direct losses to be able to claim compensation, but it is important to note that there is no guarantee regarding how much you’ll be able to secure.

We recommend contacting one of our data breach specialists immediately to gain clarity over your rights and a perspective on how much you may be entitled to. If you have suffered financial losses or experienced a detriment to your mental health as a result, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.

The team at Hayes Connor are leading experts in data breach claims, so are the best option to advise you on your rights with regard to receiving Southern Water data breach compensation. If we feel you do have grounds for compensation and you wish to proceed, we can then guide you through the whole process of making a data breach claim.

How Hayes Connor can help you claim compensation for the Southern Water data breach

Any company that stores and processes your personal data must keep it secure. This includes taking appropriate measures to prevent any cyber-attacks from taking place which could result in your data falling into the wrong hands.

At Hayes Connor, we have one of the largest teams of data breach specialists in the country. Our team have a wealth of combined experience and expertise, which we use to support individuals who have been affected by all types of data breaches, including the Southern Water data breach.

Our team can work alongside you to establish a clear understanding of your personal circumstances and how the Southern Water data breach has affected you and your family. From here, we can then establish whether you will be able to make a claim for Southern Water data breach compensation and explain how the claims process will work.

Learning that your personal data has been compromised in a data breach can be a very stressful experience. As such, we will take the time to provide close personal support during this time, making the process for a Southern Water data breach claim as clear and straightforward as possible.

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

To start a claim for a Southern Water data breach compensation, you can use our online claim form.

To speak to a member of our team about making a Southern Water data breach claim, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0330 041 5135.