Computer outage - consequences

David

I run an email group for our ex works pensioner group. We are getting on for about 150 members now. I always send the email to another of my email addresses but, like you, I use the BCC option so that none of the members of the group can be seen by anyone other than the sender. It did cause a few issues initially as some wondered why they were getting my email!!! When ever I get a bounce back its usually because the email account is no longer active. Usually people changing suppliers and not telling me!  That's why I always suggest people use something like GMail as that will travel with you. I don't know about the people in your circulation list but certainly in mine there are a few where handling emails is something of a struggle! Unfortunately the likes of GMail don't support read receipts which would be one way of confirm it has arrived.

David

Ever since the "computer outage" - hack - I have been receiving some very strange e-mails, which I never had before, which fortunate arrive in my spam file, and also there are a lot more unwarranted calls on my phone which, again, are recorded as spam. Have others experienced similar?

Nellie

Like everyone I do get SPAM emails but can't say I have noticed any increase since the outrage. Obviously I can't say with any certainty whether the SPAM I do get is because of that but volume has not changed. On an average day I get between 20 and 30 emails all but a tiny percentage are genuine. Perhaps I am tempting fate here but we don't get much in the way of nuisance calls on the landline these days, perhaps they have changed to mobiles? On my mobile I rarely have an issue but then I tend always to give the landline number unless a mobile number is a requirement. On the other hand Margaret did go through a period of having a lot of spam calls from 02, despite it not being her network. For all we know its possible the impact of the outrage hasn't yet worked through to any of us yet, so its probably still an open question?

David

David, before the hack I very rarely got any spam on e-mail address that I use to receive info etc from the club, and only the occasional spam phone call. The other email address that I use has had no change in the very limited number of junk mail in the same period, so I can only think that the "hack/outage" is the cause of it. Most annoying and I think that the club isn't being totally honest about the extent of the hack and the way it has affect some of the club's members.

I would have to disagree with your opinion that the club is being less than honest. As this was a reportable incident to the Information Commissioners Office, due to potential data loss, it will be investigated. If the club is found to be less than honest it will result in a sizable fine, which I'm sure is a position the club would not want to be in.

I can say that from a position of experience as I worked for a company that did have a data loss and had to work with the ICO in the investigation. 

Have you read DK's post (see below) from the Server Errors post. If the club are not being less than honest, as is my contention, then they are being very conservative with the truth!

The A Register reported on the outrage here and I found something interesting in the comments here particularly by Bendacious and the two following comments which suggests that some aspects of the club website are weak, there is a link to do an analysis if you wish that shows up these weaknesses. Not that I really understand these things and perhaps someone who does could explain, but could that causing the almost constant server errors?

I have read the A Register article and it doesn't include any information that wasn't already in the public domain at the time it was published and the comments on the perceived website  weakness are just one element of a multi layered Infrastructure security system.

I fail to see any linkage from this to support your claim that you are receiving more spam as a result of the outage and the honesty of the club of the club in its reporting of the outage.

You believe what you want, GE, however I will stick with my contention that the large jump in the amount of spam emails and phone calls that I am receiving are the result of the outage/hack.

Nellie

I noticed that in this month's magazine there was an update about the computer outrage. It seems that only two areas accessed by members caused concern. From memory, but don't quote me, I think it was Caravan Cover (insurance) and Red Pennant which seemed to have been impacted. Both elements between certain dates as listed in the Magazine. So anyone with those two products I assume might be at greater risk? The Club have obviously employed forensic computer experts to evaluate the likely damage and that is what they came up with.  

David

If you feel strongly that your personal information has been leaked as a result of the outage and that the club has not been honest with you, you can access the Information Commissioners Office website and use the Data Protection and Personal Information Complaints Tools to raise your concerns. It really is the only way to get an independent answer to your concerns.