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L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center systems compromised by cyber-thieves

L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center systems compromised by cyber-thieves

LOS ANGELES — The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center said Tuesday it was recently the victim of a sophisticated cyber-attack that, according to data security and technology experts, was designed to collect credit card, social security numbers and other financial information.

LA Gay and Lesbian Center
LA Gay and Lesbian Center

The Center said that although there is no evidence that anyone’s information was actually accessed or acquired, it is working with law enforcement officials to identify those responsible, and is notifying approximately 59,000 clients and former clients that information related to them may have been compromised between September 17, 2013 and November 8, 2013.

The information potentially exposed may have included name, contact information, credit card information, medical or health care information, Social Security number, date of birth, and health insurance account number.

An compromise was was first suspected after an employee on the Center’s information technology team became suspicious that sophisticated malware may have evaded the Center’s security measures.

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The Center said it retained the services of data security and technology consultants who determined that the attack was designed to acquire Social Security numbers, credit card information and other financial data.

“After learning of this attack, we took immediate steps to further safeguard the information currently on our servers and, though no organization can ever be assured that its data is 100 percent protected, we are working with data security and technology experts to guard against future attacks,” said Center CEO Lorri L. Jean.

For those who are potentially impacted, the Center has engaged Experian, one of the leading providers of credit monitoring, to provide one free year of its ProtectMyID Alert product.

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