"Hackers stole ancestry data of 6.9 million users from 23andMe."
"23andMe describes the DNA Relatives feature as 'one of the most interactive features' offered on the site, 'allowing you to find and connect with genetic relatives and learn more about your family.' By opting in, users hope to find lost family members by willingly giving others access to information like their birth year, current location, and ancestors' names and birth locations."
"The largest group, spanning about 5.5 million users, was hacked after opting in to automatically sharing information with DNA Relatives, including their 'name, birth year, relationship labels, the percentage of DNA shared with relatives, ancestry reports, and self-reported location." "The smaller group, about 1.4 million users, shared 'Family Tree profile information' that was hacked, including display names, relationship labels, birth year, and self-reported location."
Always thought about who DNA sequencing companies might voluntarily reveal the data to -- hadn't thought about what if they were simply hacked. And wonder who wanted this data and why?
Hackers stole ancestry data of 6.9 million users, 23andMe finally confirmed
