On Friday, 23andMe Holding Co., a renowned genetic testing firm, confirmed a colossal security breach as hackers put millions of genetic profiles up for sale on a hacker forum. The assailant is advertising these profiles, derived from customer accounts, in a malicious act that could have far-reaching implications for the affected individuals.
23andMe, popular for its ancestry and health-related genetic reports, found itself in the throes of a cybersecurity nightmare as an anonymous hacker claimed to possess “millions” of genetic profiles aggregated from hijacked customer accounts. The stolen data has reportedly been put up for sale on the internet, sparking concerns about the potential misuse of sensitive genetic information.
The data for sale on the hacker forum comprises genuine customer data, as confirmed by 23andMe. The hacker’s actions have been widely condemned, with cybersecurity experts highlighting the severe implications this breach could have, especially for individuals of specific ethnicities. One of the hackers alleged that the data could potentially be used to target individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, among others5.
The incident underscores the growing threats in the digital realm, particularly for companies holding sensitive and personal information. Authorities are investigating the incident, and 23andMe has been urged to ramp up its security measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
As the probe continues, customers of 23andMe are advised to stay vigilant and monitor any suspicious activities related to their personal or genetic information.
