On November 15, 2023, Westside Community Services (“Westside Health”) filed a notice of data breach with the Attorney General of California after discovering that there was unauthorized access to its computer system. In this notice, Westside explains that the incident resulted in an unauthorized party being able to access consumers’ sensitive information, which includes their names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, financial account information, medical information and health insurance information. Upon completing its investigation, Westside began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals whose information was affected by the recent data security incident.
If you receive a data breach notification from Westside Community Services, it is essential you understand what is at risk and what you can do about it. As we’ve previously discussed in similar posts, data breaches always raise concerns of identity theft, but those involving your Social Security number put you at the greatest risk. A data breach lawyer can help you learn more about how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud or identity theft, as well as discuss your legal options following the Westside Health data breach. For more information, please see our recent piece on the topic here.
What Caused the Westside Health Data Breach?
The Westside Health data breach was only recently announced, and more information is expected in the near future. However, Westside’s filing with the Attorney General of California provides some important information on what led up to the breach.
According to this source, Westside recently learned that an unauthorized party had gained access to its computer network. In response, Westside launched an investigation with the help of outside cybersecurity experts. Ultimately, this investigation confirmed that there was unauthorized access to Westside’s computer system between April 25, 2023 and May 1, 2023, including files containing confidential patient data.
After learning that sensitive consumer data was accessible to an unauthorized party, Westside Health reviewed the compromised files to determine what information was leaked and which consumers were impacted. Westside Community Services completes this process on October 16, 2023. While the breached information varies depending on the individual, it may include your name, Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, passport number, financial account information, medical information and health insurance information.
On November 15, 2023, Westside Health sent out data breach letters to anyone who was affected by the recent data security incident. These letters should provide victims with a list of what information belonging to them was compromised.
More Information About Westside Community Services
Founded in 1967, Westside Community Services is a mental health provider based out of San Francisco, California. Westside provides a range of mental health services to children and adults, including substance abuse treatment and HIV treatment. Westside Health employs more than 31 people and generates approximately $10 million in annual revenue.
