It took all of three minutes for the hacker to break into the small accounting firm's computer system. The virtual open window into the system turned out to be a computer equipped with outdated software.
It provided access to the office network and the hacker was able to get files that included private financial information.

"That was a shock," said Lynne Leavitt, a partner at the four-person Los Angeles firm, Brakensiek Leavitt Pleger. "I thought we had good security. I thought we were safe."

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