{"id":2116691,"date":"2023-12-05T17:40:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T22:40:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/23andme-says-hackers-accessed-data-of-nearly-7-million-users\/"},"modified":"2023-12-05T17:46:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T22:46:14","slug":"23andme-says-hackers-accessed-data-of-nearly-7-million-users","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/23andme-says-hackers-accessed-data-of-nearly-7-million-users\/","title":{"rendered":"23andMe: Hackers breach data of 7 million users"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F23andme-says-hackers-accessed-data-of-nearly-7-million-users%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2116691&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Genetic Testing\u200d Firm 23andMe \u2062Confirms Massive Data Breach<\/h2>\n<p>In a shocking revelation, genetic testing company 23andMe has\u2064 confirmed that hackers \u200cwere able to breach the data of a staggering 6.9 million users, which accounts \u2062for\u2064 about half of the company&#8217;s customer base.<\/p>\n<p>The breach occurred through the exploitation \u200dof a feature\u200d called DNA Relatives, which allows \u200busers to find genetic relatives. The hackers \u2062gained access to 5.5 million profiles utilizing \u200cthis feature, as well as family tree information from\u2063 an \u200badditional \u200b1.4 million profiles.<\/p>\n<p>Disturbingly, the hackers were also able to \u2063obtain users&#8217; ancestry reports, \u2064zip\u200c codes, and birth years, raising serious concerns about the security of personal information.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Protective Measures Taken<\/h3>\n<p>Following the breach, 23andMe has taken immediate action to\u200c safeguard customer data. All existing customers are now required to\u200c reset their passwords, and two-step \u200bverification has been\u2062 implemented for both new \u200band existing customers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Initially, the company had reported that only\u2063 14,000 users were affected. However, it was later discovered that \u200bthe \u200bhackers had employed\u200d a technique known as credential stuffing, reusing \u2063compromised usernames and passwords from other websites.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the breach, 23andMe has\u2062 stated that there have been no reports of \u200cinappropriate use of \u2064the leaked data. However, the company is diligently\u2063 working\u200d to notify all affected customers, as required by law.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting that this is not the first major data breach to occur in recent times. Okta, an identity management \u2064firm, also fell victim to a significant\u200d breach,\u200c underscoring the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/donald-trump-jr-s-account-hacked-on-x-hackers-falsely-announce-his-dads-death\/\" title=\"Donald Trump Jr.'s account hacked, false announcement of dad's 'death'.\">robust cybersecurity measures<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Privacy\u2062 Concerns\u200c Raised<\/h3>\n<p>Privacy advocates\u200c have long warned \u200dagainst sharing such personal information with companies,\u200d highlighting the risk of data theft. Ramesh Srinivasan,\u2064 a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles,\u2063 questioned the wisdom of entrusting such intimate data to organizations primarily driven by investor and board interests.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As \u2064the fallout from this\u2063 breach\u2064 continues, 23andMe is diligently working to notify all affected customers. However, the exact timeline for\u2064 completion remains uncertain.<\/p>\n<p><b><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-describedby=\"sk-tooltip-9096\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp&#038;source=gmail&#038;ust=1700760801843000&#038;usg=AOvVaw2PQrVSrJfhxNb4LcARqniG\">CLICK \u2062HERE\u200b TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>As\u2064 the debate over data privacy intensifies, this breach serves as\u2062 a stark reminder of the potential risks associated \u200bwith sharing personal information with companies.<\/p>\n<p>Sources:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/topic\/cyberattack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Daily Wire<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.23andme.com\/articles\/addressing-data-security-concerns\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">23andMe<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/fox-news-tech\/23andme-confirms-hackers-accessed-data-6-9-million-users\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox Business<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2023\/12\/04\/us\/23andme-hack-data.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cpomagazine.com\/cyber-security\/okta-customer-support-security-breach-update-all-clients-using-help-center-impacted-contact-info-for-all-certified-users-stolen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CPO Magazine<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What steps has 23andMe taken in response \u200bto the data breach, and what does \u2064this indicate about the company&#8217;s\u200d commitment to security and\u2064 accountability<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Company, reported earlier this year that data breaches have increased by \u200d450% since 2013, affecting various\u2064 industries including healthcare, education, and finance. This incident serves as a reminder that no organization is\u200d immune from cyber attacks, and it highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to protect\u2062 sensitive personal information.<\/p>\n<p>The breach at 23andMe is especially concerning given the nature of the data \u2062compromised.\u200d Genetic information \u200bis highly personal and can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-who-greenlit-mar-a-lago-raid-gives-secrecy-minded-doj-order-on-release-of-key-document\/\" title=\"Judge Who Greenlit Mar-A-Lago Raid Gives Secrecy-Minded DOJ Order On Release Of Key Document\">reveal sensitive information<\/a> about individuals and their families. The fact that hackers were able to access not only DNA profiles but \u200balso family tree information and \u200cancestry reports \u2063raises significant privacy concerns.<\/p>\n<p>23andMe&#8217;s response to the breach has been \u200cswift and comprehensive. Requiring all customers to reset their \u2062passwords and implementing two-step \u2063verification for both new and existing customers \u2063are important steps in \u2063strengthening security measures. Additionally, the company&#8217;s commitment to notifying\u2062 all affected customers demonstrates \u200bits commitment to transparency and accountability.<\/p>\n<p>However, it\u200c is essential for 23andMe and\u200c other companies \u200bin the \u200bgenetic testing industry to go beyond immediate remedial actions and implement measures to prevent future breaches. This incident serves as a wake-up call for the industry to review \u2062and\u2062 enhance\u200c their cybersecurity protocols.<\/p>\n<p>It is also crucial for individuals to be vigilant and\u2064 take steps to protect their personal information. This includes regularly updating passwords,\u200b being cautious about sharing \u2062sensitive information online, and regularly monitoring for any signs of identity\u2062 theft\u2063 or fraudulent activity. Awareness and education are key in \u2063<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/class-action-settlement-deadline-for-illinois-residents-to-file-claim-in-68-million-instagram-settlement-arrives-in-four-days\/\" title=\"Illinois residents have four days left to file a claim in the  million Instagram settlement.\">safeguarding personal data<\/a> in an increasingly digital world.<\/p>\n<p>This breach also underscores the need for robust data protection laws and regulations. Governments around the \u2062world must \u200bwork together to establish \u200ccomprehensive frameworks that hold\u2064 organizations accountable for the protection of personal information. Additionally, organizations must invest in adequate resources and expertise to ensure\u200c compliance with these regulations and to effectively respond \u200dto potential breaches.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 23andMe data breach serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that exist in our digital landscape. It highlights the\u2063 urgent need for improved cybersecurity measures,\u200d both\u200d at the organizational and individual\u200c levels. Only through proactive efforts to enhance security and privacy can we mitigate the risks of such breaches and safeguard personal information in the age of technology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Genetic testing firm 23andMe disclosed that hackers breached the data of 6.9 million users, nearly half its customer base. The breach involved 5.5 million profiles utilizing the DNA Relatives feature, enabling users to locate genetic relatives. Additionally, the hackers gained access to family information<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":2116692,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2116691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2116691"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2116691\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2116692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2116691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2116691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2116691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}