The Big Issue Group, a renowned social enterprise behind one of the world’s largest street newspapers, has issued an apology after a ransomware attack in March 2024 compromised personal data, including individuals’ addresses and bank account details.
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office and law enforcement have been notified of the incident, which has raised significant concerns among those affected. In response, the Big Issue Group has sent out advice and an apology to those whose data was compromised.
In a letter to affected individuals, Keren Segal, Chief Operating Officer of the Big Issue Group, detailed the organization’s response to the attack. “We are writing to you to make you aware of a ransomware incident the Big Issue Group (BIG) became a victim of in late March 2024. Upon discovery of the incident, we immediately engaged third-party cybersecurity experts and took steps to contain the incident and recover our systems. Since then, we have, along with our third-party advisers, been taking steps to understand the wider impact of this incident, including undertaking a complex IT investigation,” Segal wrote.
The investigation, now in its final stages, confirmed that some personal data had indeed been impacted. “We understand this may cause concern and we are sorry for this,” Segal added.
Emphasizing the seriousness with which the organization treats IT security and privacy, Segal noted, “Whilst no organization can guarantee absolute security given the ever-present cybersecurity challenge we all face—recent news stories demonstrate the size and scale of this issue—we, along with third-party experts, have undertaken an exhaustive IT investigation in respect of this incident, and we will continue to review the security processes we have in place on an ongoing basis.”
The Big Issue Group, known for its work supporting those facing poverty and barriers to opportunity, condemned the attack as “an abhorrent act against our social enterprise and the causes we work to promote.” Despite the disruption, Segal assured that the organization’s staff remained committed to their mission of changing lives through enterprise.
