You may have seen reports in the news about a cyber-attack affecting the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). The LAA, which provides funding for people who need legal representation, has confirmed that its systems have been targeted in a criminal cyber-attack.
What happened?
The Legal Aid Agency has experienced a significant cyber-attack, which may have given criminals access to personal information. At this stage, it’s not yet known exactly what data has been taken or which individuals may be affected.
However, the Ministry of Justice has confirmed that the following types of information may have been compromised:
- Names and contact details
- Dates of birth and national insurance numbers
- Employment and financial information
- Details provided in legal aid applications
If you have applied for legal aid at any time since 2010, it is possible that your data could be involved.
What can you do?
While investigations continue, it’s a good idea to take some basic precautions:
- Be cautious if you receive unexpected phone calls, emails, or messages, especially if they ask for personal or financial information.
- Don’t share details unless you are completely sure who you are speaking to.
- Change your passwords, particularly if you’ve reused passwords on more than one account.
- Keep your passwords safe and consider using a password manager to help.
We’re here to help
We understand that this news may be concerning. Your safety and peace of mind are important to us, and we are here to support you.
You can read the Government’s official update here: Legal Aid Agency data breach – GOV.UK