23andMe says hackers gained access to data of about 6.9 million people
23andMe says hackers gained access to data of about 6.9 million people
A company spokesperson said the hackers gained access to some customer accounts through reused passwords.
Genetic testing company 23andMe said Monday that hackers were able to access the data of about 6.9 million people, far more than the company previously acknowledged.
The finding is the result of an investigation 23andMe launched in October, after at least one list of people whom the site identified as having Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry was posted online.
You're viewing a single thread.
If I needed anymore convincing that you shouldn't just give your genomic data away forever to shady companies for "FuN tRiViA" about your ancestry, this is certainly it
No one could ever explain to me what the point of these are, except that they can say now that they are 11% Italian. It's like a online iq test with spit.
i dunno a lot of history is about human diaspora for different reasons. people are allowed to be interested in their history and shouldn't have to worry about this kind of bullshit
You can be interested in your IQ, that doesn't mean taking an facebook IQ test is the right play
I think 23nMe looks into genome related predisposal to health issues. Like "this sequence here is related to high probability of pancreatic cancer" or some bullshit like that.
In the hands of hackers, I guess it could be used to target individuals for highly specific scams or something like that. That's only what I can think of though. Who knows what they'll use it for and if it even has identifiable personal info past just ancestry.
The tinfoil hat theory is that this info could be used to charge extra for insurance premiums/denial of coverage...
In Canada it's more like 11% First Nations, Inuit or Metis ... so white people can play pretendian.
After my gma and gpa had Alzheimer's, we (mom, me, brother) did it to see if we had the genetic markers for increased risk for the disease.
Bonus: we also found out we have a half sister on Dad's side that we did not know about that was born the year after Mom and dad divorced, and Dad also didn't know about her,. or so he says. So that was informative.
Can you even do anything if you know you have a chance to get alzheimer, othe rthan knowing it?
Hope for medical advancement, mostly. However, there is positivity and purpose in knowing. I now know that I have one of two markers and my risk is elevated compared to the average person. Working to keep my mind sharp and healthy should be a higher priority for me now. We are learning more about this stuff as the time. Knowing is always better than ignorance.