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British Dental Association (BDA) Data Breach

THIS ACTION IS NOW CLOSED

In July 2020, hackers targeted the British Dental Association (BDA). This page explains more about how the BDA data breach happened. 

What happened in the British Dental Association data breach?

In July 2020, hackers targeted the British Dental Association (BDA). It was unclear what data was accessed by the cybercriminals, but dentist bank account numbers and sort codes were reportedly stolen in the attack.

Names, contact details, transaction histories, logs of correspondence and notes of cases were also said to be compromised.

The trade body contacted those affected by this hack

With around 35,000 dentists in the UK, this was a massive data breach.

Victims of the BDA data breach were put at risk

As information stolen in breaches is often used by cybercriminals, the breach could have had severe consequences for those affected.

Similar data breaches have resulted in fraud, blackmail, and identity theft, so victims of this data breach were at high risk of being targeted by cybercriminals.

Following the breach, the BDA suggested that members take steps to protect their passwords and bank accounts as a precaution. The British Dental Association also recommended staying cautious of suspicious emails or calls. It reminded members that legitimate organisations will never ask you to reveal your bank details over the phone or on email. 

Your questions answered

See our answers to the FAQs we get asked about the British Dental Association data breach.

How did the security incident happen?

The BDA was vague about the details of the breach. But it did confirm that its servers were illegally hacked and warned members to be extra vigilant. The BDA also informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). 

What data was accessed?

It is understood that dentist bank account numbers and sort codes were stolen in this attack. Names, contact details, transaction histories, logs of correspondence and notes of cases were also compromised. Some patient information could also have been compromised.

Was my information accessed in the breach?

The trade body contacted those affected by this hack.