What legal steps can I take if my online shop has been hacked?
May 19, 2022 | 45,00 EUR | answered by Otto Schäfer
Dear Lawyer,
I have been operating an online shop for several years, through which I sell my handmade jewelry pieces. Recently, however, my online shop was hacked and I am now concerned about the security of my customers and the future of my business. The hacker may have gained access to personal data of my customers and sensitive information about my business operations. I fear that this could lead to legal consequences and I would like to know what legal steps I can take to protect my business and hold the responsible parties accountable.
I have already tried to report the hack and secure my online shop from further attacks, but I am not sure if this is enough to protect my customers and maintain my reputation as a trustworthy online retailer. I am also worried about potential claims for damages from my customers and possible legal consequences for me as the operator of the hacked online shop.
Can you please advise me on what legal steps I can take to protect my customers, hold the hacker accountable, and secure my business from further attacks? Are there any specific laws or regulations that I should be aware of to protect my legal interests? I would greatly appreciate your professional advice and support in this matter.
Sincerely,
Lilli Mattes
Dear Mrs. Mattes,
I understand your concern about the security of your customers and the future of your online shop after the hacker attack. It is important that you take appropriate legal steps to protect your customers, hold the hacker accountable, and secure your business from further attacks.
Firstly, you should report the hacker attack immediately to the relevant authority, usually the police or data protection officer. This is not only important to officially document the incident, but also to pursue possible criminal consequences for the hacker. Additionally, you should ensure that you take all necessary steps to secure your online shop, such as updating security software, reviewing passwords, and implementing encryption technologies.
Regarding the legal steps you can take to protect your customers, there are various laws and regulations that you should consider. For example, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) states that as an operator of an online shop, you are obliged to take appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security and confidentiality of your customers' personal data. If your customers' personal data was compromised by the hacker attack, you may have violated these provisions.
Furthermore, you should consider whether you can take civil legal action against the hacker to claim damages. Depending on the circumstances of the hacker attack, you may be able to claim damages for loss of customer trust, financial loss, or other negative impacts.
It is important that you seek professional advice in this matter to protect your legal interests. An experienced lawyer specializing in internet and computer law can help you take the right steps to protect your customers, hold the hacker accountable, and secure your business from further attacks.
I hope this information is helpful to you and I am available to advise and support you in this matter.
Best regards,
Otto Schäfer
