Our personal information is more and more at risk in this age of technology. Our online profiles, from our bank information to our social networking accounts, leave a large digital footprint. Additionally, our DNA is a part of our private data that we don’t think about very often. It is essential to understand the repercussions of genetic testing in safeguarding our DNA data as the demand for genetic testing services like 23andMe grows. To learn more about this subject, read this blog.
What Is 23andMe?
The company is based in California, USA, and is one of the biggest DNA testing companies for individuals. It is best known for its health reports, which are optional, and its huge testing pool, which is second only to Ancestry DNA. 23andMe was the first company to offer autosomal DNA testing for ancestry when it started up in April 2006. Additionally, it pioneered the use of spit as a testing method, a practice that continues to this day.
How Much Does The 23andMe Test Cost?
23andMe has three different service packages with different prices. You can choose the package that works best for you! These are the three packages.
Ancestry + Traits Service: $199
Included are a DNA Relative Finder, an Automatic Family Tree Builder, and 23andMe Ancestry Reports, which provide information on ancestry composition, haplogroups, and even Neanderthal ancestry! It also encompasses over 30 intriguing genetic characteristics, despite their non-ancestry-related nature.
Health + Ancestry Service: $299
In addition to the things we talked about earlier, this package comes with a Health Predisposition Report, carrier status reports, wellness reports, and even a Family Health History Tree. While these services may not be particularly helpful for genetic genealogy, they are still intriguing and helpful to know about.
23andMe+ Membership: $299 + $69 One-year Prepaid Membership
This package includes all the items listed in the previous package. The only thing that makes this option different from the last one is the membership function. This gives users access to advanced filtering for DNA Relative Finder, as well as up to 3500 more DNA relations, according to the website. You’ll be able to access special data and benefits all year long if you buy the membership.
Why Are People Concerned About The Security Of Their Genetic Information?
Since technological advancements allow us to learn more about our DNA, more and more people are looking for genetic testing companies like 23andMe. There is a lot of useful information here about our ancestry, health risks, and possible family ties. However, this ease of access also raises serious concerns about data security.
Breach Of Data
Massive amounts of genetic information stored in computer stores seriously raise the potential for security breaches. Hackers could exploit this private data for malicious purposes such as identity theft, insurance fraud, and genetic discrimination.
Share With A Third Party
Companies that do genetic testing frequently collaborate with other groups, such as drug companies, for research purposes. These relationships increase the risk of improper handling or use of personal data, despite their potential to yield important scientific findings.
Lack Of Regulation
The genetic testing business is still very new and doesn’t have a lot of government control. The lack of consistent cyber security measures has left people unaware of the safety measures in place to safeguard their personal information.
23andMe, a company specializing in personal genetics and biotechnology, examines your genetic code to provide information about your ethnicity, potential health issues, and other traits. Since its founding in 2006, the company has emerged as a significant player in the consumer-focused genetic testing market.
What Makes Data Breaches Newsworthy?
Cybercriminals gained unauthorized access to millions of individuals’ private information through 23andMe for several months. 23andMe, a genetic analysis company, analyzes individuals’ DNA to uncover their family history and potential health risks. Cybercriminals gained access to personal data from about 7 million 23andMe users in October 2023.
Consider the possibility that someone will break into your home and steal personal data about your family and ancestry. This happened to a large number of users at 23andMe, a company that specializes in DNA research. That’s right, hackers got illegal access to data from almost half of the users for five months before anyone even noticed the breach. We summarize recent computer security breach news here.
Hackers Broke In
Cyber hackers were able to access user profiles in April 2023 after successfully deducing login information.
Millions Affected
Cybercriminals stole the full names, birth dates, family ties, and genetic information of 6.9 million individuals.
Business Was Unknown
23andMe was unaware that hackers had stolen data for several months.
Lawsuits Filed
Angry individuals who had their information compromised sued 23andMe for failing to protect their privacy.
23andMe Blames Users
The company claims that users should have chosen more secure passwords, and that the company is not responsible.
Genetic data is highly confidential and can potentially lead to identity theft, unfair treatment, or even financial demands. Due to their insufficient efforts in safeguarding this information, 23andMe has received widespread unhappiness.
A Large Number Of People Had Their Genetic Information Stolen!
How Did This Happen?
The cybercriminals didn’t need to break into 23andMe’s networks to do what they did. “Credential stuffing” is the term for what they did. This method collects login information from various platforms and attempts to access accounts on different websites using the same information.
Why Is This Such A Big Deal?
The privacy of our DNA data makes it vulnerable to misuse, such as identity theft or coercion. Individuals are worried and unhappy that 23andMe didn’t do more to safeguard their genetic information.
What Can Businesses Do?
To stop cybercriminals from getting our personal data, businesses can help by strengthening security measures. They can also teach their customers the best ways to keep their internet security safe.
How Can You Make Sure That Your Genetic Information Stays Safe?
Even though the concerns about the safety of genetic information in the cyber world may seem overwhelming, there are steps you can take to safeguard your genetic data.
Read The Privacy Policy
Check the company’s confidentiality policy before sending your data for genetic research. Pay close attention to their claims about how they secure your data, whether they share it with other people, and how committed they are to safeguarding your personal information.
Choose A Reputable Company
Before picking a service for genetic testing, make sure you do a lot of study.
Limit Sharing
You have the option to limit the amount of genetic testing data that certain genetic testing companies use for research or share with outside parties.
Understand The Risks
Keep in mind the risks of having unapproved individuals access to your genetic data.
Secure Your Online Accounts
For your accounts linked to genetic testing, create strong, unique passwords, and turn on multi-factor authentication whenever you have the option for extra security.
Update Your Privacy Settings
Check out the options for protection in your DNA testing account. To safeguard your personal information, make sure you are only sharing data with reliable individuals and change the privacy settings as needed.
How Are These Issues Resolved Or Addressed?
People are taking steps to lessen the effects of cyber risks on genetic information as they become more aware of their dangers.
Better Encryption
Businesses that provide genetic testing are working to improve their data protection strategies by implementing stronger encryption methods. In order to make it difficult for hackers to access and understand the data, this encryption turns the information into a complicated code.
Legislative Efforts
More and more, governments around the world are realizing that they need to regulate the genetic testing industry. Governments are passing new laws to establish rules for data management and process implementation, ensuring digital security.
Ethical Guidelines
Professional and academic groups are developing ethical guidelines for the handling of genetic information. These guidelines’ goal is to safeguard individuals’ privacy while still allowing science to progress.
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How Can We Keep Everyone Safe?
For each site you access, it’s essential to use a strong password. Also, be careful about what personal information you share online, even with groups you trust. As the number of people using genetic testing services grows, it’s important to keep in mind the cyber security issues that come up when you store genetic information. It is possible to protect your information’s confidentiality by being aware of potential risks, implementing the right safety precautions, and advocating for better data security. We should handle your genetic data with utmost care due to its uniqueness and importance.
