by Ganesh Sahathevan
While Dell faces a class action for the data breach that affected 49 Million customers worldwide, in Australia the Australian Competition And Consumer Commission (ACCC) has declared in writing to this writer ,and DELL laptop owner, that it has no jurisdiction to address complaints from Dell users in Australia who have suffered software and hardware damage caused by breach (which this user has).
This comes as a surprise for the ACCC has, under the leadership of Rod Sims, promptly attended to consumer complaints against DELL.The new chair Gina Cass-Gottliebhas has not explained why she feels her powers have been curtailed.
TO BE READ WITH
Dell sends email notifications to customers after hacker found selling access to stolen data containing details on 49 million users.
A class action lawsuit was recently filed against computer giant, Dell Computers, after it was learned that information belonging to 49 million customers is being sold on the Dark Web. The lawsuit accuses Dell of “negligence” after a cyberattack was able to breach the Company’s database.
Over a two day period beginning May 9, 2024 – Dell customers received an email from the company where it revealed that its database had been breached. According to the email, names, physical addresses and hardware and order information- such as service tags, item descriptions, date of order and warranty information- was exposed in the breach.
The language of the lawsuit accuses Dell of “negligence” and says the plaintiff and other class action members “now suffer from a present and continuing risk of fraud and identity theft and must now constantly monitor their financial accounts.”
What Happened?
Little is known to date about the data breach. According to a Company statement, an “incident” involving a “Dell portal” had led to a database containing “limited types of customer information including name, physical address, and certain Dell hardware and order information” being exposed.
The computing firm said it “did not include financial or payment information, email address, telephone number or any highly sensitive customer data”, adding that it did not believe there was a “significant risk” to customers given the nature of the information involved – Dell said it was taking proactive steps to notify them.
“Dell Technologies has a cybersecurity program designed to limit risk to our environments, including those used by our customers and partners,” the US firm’s statement said.
What Is Dell Doing to Protect My Identity?
Dell’s statement goes on to say that upon discovering this incident, it promptly implemented its incident response procedures, applied containment measures, began investigating, and notified law enforcement. The investigation is supported by external forensic specialists.
“We continue to monitor the situation and take steps to protect our customers’ information. Although we don’t believe there is significant risk to our customers given the type of information involved, we are taking proactive steps to notify them as appropriate.”
Dell is not currently offering credit monitoring or identity theft protection services to affected individuals. The PC maker warned customers to watch out for strange activity on their Dell accounts and potential tech support scams.
What Can Hackers Do With My Information?
Stephen Crow, security director at cybersecurity firm ANS, said recent Dell customers should be alert to any suspicious messages they receive claiming to be Dell or another firm.
““An immediate priority for impacted Dell customers will be to be wary of communications around recent orders, as these could be fraudulent,” he said.
“Malicious actors may seek to gain more data through targeted attacks using the information stolen.
He added: “The data breach at Dell is a stark reminder that no organization is completely immune from cyber threats, and that all forms of customer data requires stringent protection.
“Despite the absence of financial data, threat actors could potentially use the stolen information to launch phishing or malware attacks against consumers. They are likely to sell this data on the dark web as well, putting customers at even more risk.
Protect Your Identity. Join the Dell Data Breach Class Action.
If you receive a notification letter from Dell Computers, you are at permanent risk of identity theft and the devastating financial and legal consequences that go along with it.
You may be eligible to participate in a class action lawsuit to recover compensation for loss of privacy, time spent dealing with the breach, out-of-pocket costs, and more.
The lawsuit looks to cover anyone in the USA whose private information was compromised by the breach announced by Dell Computers.
Please complete the below form shown on this page and a data breach attorney will contact you. There is no cost to you.
