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Data breach at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims basic personal information

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Salt Lake City, Utah – In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a number of its computer systems were compromised in late March, allowing outsiders access to church members’ personal information.

The LDS Church claims that information used in online Church accounts may have been among the personal data acquired in the breach.

The Church claims that the basic contact information such as full name, gender, email address(es), birthdate, mailing address, phone number(s), membership record number, and usernames may have been affected. The Church also claims that the donation history and banking information related to online donations were not affected.

“We take protecting the personal data entrusted to us seriously and are taking every action to keep your information safe,” Church officials said in a statement. “We have been working with external forensic experts, U.S. federal law enforcement, and other cybersecurity professionals to investigate the incident and further enhance the security of Church systems.”

According to the Church, the breach occurred on March 23, 2022, and federal law enforcement agencies were contacted right away. The Church was given instructions to keep the breach a secret throughout the investigation.

The Church has started emailing those who are impacted after the study is finished. The hack is thought to be a part of a “pattern of state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting governments and institutions all over the world that are not intended to damage individuals.”

The LDS Church says its members should “stay attentive” regarding the protection of personal data even though it has no evidence that any personal information has been abused or made public.

It is advised that those who are concerned about their own cybersecurity often change their passwords and use secure, unique passwords for each account. Anyone who observes any questionable activity—including fraud, con games, or identity theft—should report it right away to law enforcement officials.

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