Westside Community Services

Westside Community Services, also known as Westside Health, experienced a significant data breach that was officially reported to the California Attorney General on November 15, 2023. The breach was discovered after unauthorized access to Westside’s computer system was identified, occurring between April 25, 2023, and May 1, 2023. This unauthorized access allowed the intruder(s) to potentially acquire sensitive consumer information, including names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, financial account information, medical information, and health insurance information[1][5].

Westside Community Services, established in 1967 and based in San Francisco, California, is a mental health provider offering a variety of services to both children and adults, such as substance abuse treatment and HIV treatment. The organization employs over 31 people and generates approximately $10 million in annual revenue[1].

Following the discovery of the breach, Westside Community Services conducted a thorough investigation with the assistance of external cybersecurity experts to understand the extent of the breach and the specific data that was compromised. The investigation concluded on October 16, 2023, and confirmed that confidential patient data was indeed accessible to an unauthorized party[1][5].

In response to the breach, Westside Community Services began sending out data breach notification letters to all affected individuals, advising them of the breach and the specific information about them that was compromised. These letters are intended to inform victims about the potential risks and suggest steps they can take to protect themselves from identity theft and fraud[1].

The breach raises significant concerns about the security of sensitive personal and medical information and highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against unauthorized access. Victims of the breach are advised to remain vigilant for signs of identity theft or fraud and consider taking additional steps to secure their personal information, such as monitoring their credit reports and considering identity theft protection services[1][5].

Citations:

1. https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/westside-community-services-notified-8137714/
2. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs
3. https://westside-health.org/notice-data-breach
4. https://omaha.com
5. https://www.thelyonfirm.com/blog/westside-community-services-data-breach-investigation/
6. https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/crime/jacksonville-sheriffs-office-says-a-woman-was-shot-in-the-back-from-outside-while-inside-a-home-on-jacksonvilles-westside/77-85ea4771-b804-4cec-bc00-9d3bc4e981eb
7. https://www.myinjuryattorney.com/data-breach-investigation-westside-community-services/
8. https://www.wlac.edu
9. https://oag.ca.gov/ecrime/databreach/reports/sb24-576551
10. https://www.latimes.com
11. https://twitter.com/ConsumerLaw/status/1726696209577021841
12. https://fox59.com/news/car-runs-into-business-on-near-west-side-of-indianapolis/
13. https://www.westside-health.org
14. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/person-in-custody-2-suspects-on-the-run-after-police-chase-in-chicago-suburb/
15. https://newstral.com/en/article/en/1246370367/westside-community-services-notified-patients-of-recent-data-breach
16. https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/spider-monkey-emotional-support-service-animal-18659435.php