New Guide Empowers Scots to Protect Themselves Against Data Breaches

In light of recent cyber attacks affecting local councils and major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, the Cyber and Fraud Hub, Scotland’s only charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by fraud and cyber crime, has launched a new guide: Protecting Your Personal Information: A Guide to Data Breaches. 

This free guide aims to raise public awareness of what data breaches are, how they happen, the steps individuals can take to protect themselves, and how to respond if their data is compromised. 

“With data breaches becoming more frequent and sophisticated, many people don’t realise how their data is being collected, how it might be used by cyber criminals, or what to do if it ends up in the wrong hands” said Alex Dowall, CEO of the Cyber and Fraud Hub. “This guide was created to make that information accessible, actionable and easy to understand.” 

As personal data becomes more valuable (and more vulnerable), understanding how it’s collected, stored, and sometimes compromised is more important than ever. 

The guide includes practical advice on: 

• What personal data is and how it's collected. 

• How data breaches occur and how cyber criminals exploit stolen data. 

• Identifying and avoiding common threats that can follow a breach. 

• Recognising the signs of identity theft and how to prevent it. 

• Practical steps to secure online accounts and monitor for suspicious activity. 

Whether it’s a major cyber-attack on a large organisation or a smaller data leak, the impact can still be significant on the individual. This guide empowers people with the tools and knowledge they need to stay safer online. 

The guide is available to read, share, and download for free at: cyberfraudhub.org/resource-database/protecting-your-personal-information-a-guide-to-data-breaches