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Windfarm Operator Deutsche Windtechnik Suffers Cyber Attack Putting UK Employee Data at Risk

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German windfarm operator Deutsche Windtechnik is the latest company to be impacted by a cyber attack following a string of incidents against several German energy providers.

The incident has resulted in access to and the copying of the personal data of UK based employees.

The cyberattack is said to have taken place on 12 April 2022, when the company’s IT systems were breached. Deutsche Windtechnik discovered that data had been extracted on 6 May and has subsequently found that data relating to their UK employees was involved.

The data that has been breached includes:

  • Names
  • Addresses
  • Personal phone numbers
  • Email addresses
  • Next of kin details
  • Drivers’ licences
  • Passports
  • National insurance numbers

In addition, special category data has been taken involving sensitive personal information regarding absence periods from work.

If you are a UK Deutsche Windtechnik employee, it is understandable that you may be concerned about your personal details being exposed in the cyber attack. The team at Hayes Connor have extensive experience in data breach incidents similar to this, so can provide a bespoke service with clear, tailored advice on your rights, including the right to claim compensation.

To find out how our data breach experts can help you, please get in touch today.

What action is Deutsche Windtechnik taking over its employee data breach?

To help prevent further impact and the potential of more data being at risk, all IT systems had to be shut down, along with all remote monitoring connections to the wind turbines being cut off.

IT forensic scientists undertook an investigation into the cyber attack, where a forensic analysis uncovered that it was a targeted cyberattack carried out by professional cyber criminals.

The company has also reported the incident to the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

What risks does the Deutsche Windtechnik data breach pose for the company’s employees?

Any employee data that has been compromised in the cyber attack suffered by Deutsche Windtechnik is at risk of being made public. Data exposed could be used by cyber criminals with ill intentions through actions such as identity theft and financial fraud.

The exposed data could also be used by cybercriminals for the purpose of ‘phishing attacks’. This means those affected could be directly contacted by criminals using personal details they have already obtained from the breach to gain further information, such as sensitive financial data.

If Deutsche Windtechnik has informed you that your personal data is at risk or you are concerned that this may be the case, it is crucial for you to take the appropriate measures to protect yourself.

What to do if you are concerned about the Deutsche Windtechnik data breach

If the cyber attack incident suffered by Deutsche Windtechnik has put your personal data at risk, the company are required to inform you by law. That said, if you have strong reason to believe your details have been compromised but have not been informed by Deutsche Windtechnik, we recommend directly contacting the company for confirmation.

If there is a chance your personal details have been leaked in the cyber attack, it is important to remain vigilant of unexpected communications, especially from anyone claiming to represent Deutsche Windtechnik. Cybercriminals may attempt to exploit you through actions such as ‘phishing attacks’. This is often done via email or text messages.

There are ways to reduce the likelihood of your personal details being used against you after a cybersecurity incident. For more information on what cautionary measures can be taken, please read our helpful guide on what to do if your data has been stolen in a data breach.

If your data has been impacted by the Deutsche Windtechnik cyber attack, you may have grounds to claim compensation. The team of dedicated data breach experts at Hayes Connor will be happy to provide their assistance in claiming compensation.

How Hayes Connor can help you claim compensation for the Deutsche Windtechnik data breach

When organisations choose to record and store your personal data, they are legally obligated to keep it secure. You could be eligible to claim compensation where this legal duty is not met.

Hayes Connor are one of the largest teams of dedicated data breach specialists across the UK. As a team, we have a wealth of expertise, having worked with a variety of clients in all manner of data breach compensation claims. We are perfectly placed to offer an efficient service, guiding you through each step of the claims process.

We appreciate the disruption and distress a data breach can cause when your personal details have been compromised. With the Hayes Connor data breach team by your side, you can be confident in receiving full support throughout the entire claims process, helping to keep stress levels to a minimum.

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 Deutsche Windtechnik data breach, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 0151 363 5895.