Dear member,
Last week, Girlguiding LaSER became aware that it had suffered a ransomware attack. Girlguiding LaSER is one of 10 countries and regions in Girlguiding and functions as its own charity. Girlguiding LaSER consists of 19 Counties covering, Greater London, Surrey, Sussex, Kent and part of Essex. Girlguiding LaSER holds information to help with the running of the region. LaSER does not hold information stored on the national Girlguiding database ‘GO’.
1. What we have done
As soon as we became aware that our server had been attacked, it was disconnected from our computers, and it is no longer in use. We have informed the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the Metropolitan Police Cybercrime unit, and we are now investigating the incident with external IT Forensics consultants.
2. Why we are contacting you
There is the potential that the cyber attackers may have accessed personal data that you might have shared with us. This could include information such as contact details and in some cases, your date of birth and/or your bank account number and sort code. We are contacting you so that you can take steps to protect yourself from attempted fraud and identity theft.
3. What you can do to protect yourself
Cybercriminals use stolen personal data in order to commit fraud, identity theft and other criminal activities. You should remain vigilant for suspicious communications, such as unexpected emails, text messages or phone calls. If you receive a suspicious email, text message, or phone call, you should avoid giving away information that could be used for criminal purposes. For instance, you should avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in an email unless you know and trust the sender. You should also be vigilant for any bank transactions that you do not recognise, and immediately contact your bank in the event of any suspicious activity on your account.
4. Further updates
We will provide updates if and when we become aware of any new information which will help you to protect yourself and will collate and share FAQ.
If you have an urgent concern that is not answered above, or if you become aware of any suspicious activity that you believe may have resulted from this incident, please contact us on it@girlguidinglaser.org.uk.