The ability to weaponize DNA data will only grow more acute as computers grow more powerful.
An additional 1.4 million people who opted-in to DNA Relatives also had their Family Tree profile information accessed.
The worst, however, was the genetic info.
Photo: Victor Moussa / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock)
In general, companies have a legal obligation to protect their customers from data breaches.
The company did not respond to other questions related to this article.
Users can opt out of the new arbitration provision by emailing[email protected]by January 4.
The problem, experts say, is you rarely feel the consequences directly.
Your personal information is used in complicated and obscure ways for all kinds of purposes behind closed doors.
The data thats collected from you determines what you are or arent offered.
In the past, consumer data has been used to exclude certain demographics from job opportunities or vacant apartments.
Genetic information might seem disconnected from these problems, but its not.
You cant change your genetic information, so its sensitive in and of itself, Bernstein said.
Theres a serious risk of that becoming part of the profiling that happens in the broader ecosystem.
And that only factors in the ways that we know DNA information can be used today.
Gene science is a rapidly developing field.
Theres no telling what this information could reveal in the future.
A spokesperson said the data breach resulted from people recycling passwords they had used on other accounts.
Reusing passwords is asking for trouble, but security professionals understand that bad password practices are a guarantee.
According to experts, the 23andMe hack was easily preventable.
In fact, it amended the existing policy to include mass arbitration.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
Meta Pissed Off Everyone With Poorly Redacted Docs
Meta is being very transparent on accident.
