by Dana Bartholomew

VALLEY GLEN >> When a malicious hacker locked out 1,800 staff and teachers from their computers at Los Angeles Valley College this week, college administrators faced an agonizing choice: pay a ransom or leave 20,000 students in the lurch.

They elected to pay a $28,000 ransom. In bitcoins.

“In consultation with district and college leadership, outside cybersecurity experts and law enforcement, a payment of $28,000 was made by the District,” Los Angeles Community College District Chancellor Francisco C. Rodriguez, in a statement Friday.