Old News Massive data breach at 23andMe: personal data of 6.9 million users compromised

[WhyMe007]

23andMe recently disclosed that hackers compromised the personal data of 6.9 million users. The initial breach occurred in early October, with approximately 14,000 individual accounts reportedly unlawfully accessed at that time (about 0.1% of its customers). The company did not initially reveal the broader impact, but it is now confirmed that the data breach affected about half of 23andMe's 14 million customers.

A company's spokesperson confirmed that the hackers accessed the personal information of approximately 5.5 million users who had used the DNA Relatives feature, allowing automatic data sharing with other users. The stolen data included names, birth years, relationship labels, DNA shared percentage with relatives, ancestry reports, and self-reported locations.

Source: alternatives to

[Kyng]

Wow, that is an awful lot of people - and some of this data is obviously quite sensitive .

I've never used any of these online genealogy tools, but I'd like to at some point - and in light of this story, I'd want to see evidence of improved security at 23andMe before I used them!

[WhyMe007]

i was almost going to use this service last year...but decided not to.

[slooroo]

I used Ancestry over 23andMe simply because I liked it tied into the family tree I worked on. Fairly I doubt any service is 100% safe.

[Shiny Star]

Ah, I’ve used both 23 and me and ancestry. I remember they made me change my password semi-recently, was probably related to this.

[WhyMe007]

Hope your data is intact...keep monitoring it.i remember my data was almost compromised many years ago but i caught wind of it with help of some friends who were security experts

[Kyng]

They're being investigated over this data breach now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gg17pq5y9o

Let's hope it turns up some information on exactly how this was allowed to happen - which might help other websites to avoid this in the future!

[~ True Legend ~]

They're being investigated over this data breach now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gg17pq5y9o

Let's hope it turns up some information on exactly how this was allowed to happen - which might help other websites to avoid this in the future!

Wow that info compromised seems very sensitive 😬🤨 I’m not sure how useful it’d be though, except for, like, stalkers who are your exes.

[Kyng]

They're being investigated over this data breach now:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gg17pq5y9o

Let's hope it turns up some information on exactly how this was allowed to happen - which might help other websites to avoid this in the future!

Wow that info compromised seems very sensitive 😬🤨 I’m not sure how useful it’d be though, except for, like, stalkers who are your exes.

Well, genetic information could definitely be misused in the wrong hands.

For example: people might be able to guess your sexual orientation from looking at your genome (there's no single "gay gene", but it is believed genetics are one of the main things that influences it). And in countries where homosexual people are still discriminated against, that's quite a big deal!

[deyana]

That's not good.  I had my dna tested via Ancestry.ca   but still I think all on-line sites are vulnerable to hackers.  Just have to be careful where you put your personal information.