Current:Home > Markets23andMe hack let "threat actor" access data for millions of customers, company says-InfoLens
23andMe hack let "threat actor" access data for millions of customers, company says
View Date:2024-12-23 11:50:32
Hackers accessed the personal data of millions of people who used services from the genetic testing company 23andMe in October, the company confirmed Monday.
When did 23andMe know about the hack?
The company launched an investigation in October after a "threat actor" claimed online to have 23andMe users' profile information.
A spokesperson at the time said the company believed threat actors targeted the accounts of 23andMe users who had reused usernames and passwords from other sites that had been hacked. The spokesperson didn't reveal how many people had been impacted by the hack.
On Friday, the company acknowledged in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that the hacker accessed 0.1% of 23andMe's user accounts.
While the hacker only accessed about 14,000 accounts through the attack, a feature on 23andMe allows users to see information about possible relatives, a company spokesperson said. By exploiting this feature, the hacker was able to view the information of millions of users.
A 23andMe spokesperson on Monday clarified that about 5.5 million customers had their "DNA Relatives" profiles accessed in an unauthorized manner. The profiles contain information such as display names, predicted relationships with others and the DNA percentages the user shares with matches.
Additionally, about 1.4 million customers participating in the Relatives feature had their "Family Tree" profile information accessed, which 23andMe describes as a limited subset of the Relatives profile data.
As of Friday, 23andMe said it was still in the process of notifying affected customers. The company is now requiring existing customers to reset their passwords and enable two-step verification.
The company said it believes "threat actor activity is contained."
What is 23andMe?
The company analyzes people's DNA from saliva samples provided by customers. The company produces reports about the customers' DNA that includes information about their ancestry and genetic health risks.
- In:
- Data Breach
- Genetic Genealogy
Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.
TwitterveryGood! (2451)
Related
- 12 college students charged with hate crimes after assault in Maryland
- Croatian police detain 9 soccer fans over the violence in Greece last month that killed one person
- 'We still haven't heard': Family of student body-slammed by officer says school never reached out
- As the world’s problems grow more challenging, the head of the United Nations gets bleaker
- Nicky Hilton Shares Her Christmas Plans With Paris, the Secret To Perfect Skin & More Holiday Gift Picks
- Three dead in targeted shooting across the street from Atlanta mall, police say
- Worker involved in Las Vegas Grand Prix prep suffers fatal injury: Police
- Farm Aid 2023: Lineup, schedule, how to watch livestream of festival with Willie Nelson, Neil Young
- Halle Berry surprises crowd in iconic 2002 Elie Saab gown from her historic Oscar win
- Tropical Storm Ophelia weakens to a depression
Ranking
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a long record of promoting anti-vaccine views
- Colombia’s presidential office manipulates video of President Petro at UN to hype applause
- AP PHOTOS: King Charles and Camilla share moments both regal and ordinary on landmark trip to France
- As Russia hits Ukraine's energy facilities with a deadly missile attack, fear mounts over nuclear plants
- Mississippi woman pleads guilty to stealing Social Security funds
- Cracks in Western wall of support for Ukraine emerge as Eastern Europe and US head toward elections
- Biden to open embassies in Cook Islands, Niue as he welcomes Pacific leaders for Washington summit
- The threat of wildfires is rising. So is new artificial intelligence solutions to fight them
Recommendation
-
Elon Musk says 'SNL' is 'so mad' Trump won as he slams Dana Carvey's impression
-
A Black student’s family sues Texas officials over his suspension for his hairstyle
-
The threat of wildfires is rising. So is new artificial intelligence solutions to fight them
-
2 dead, 2 hurt following early morning shooting at Oahu boat harbor
-
‘Emilia Pérez’ wouldn’t work without Karla Sofía Gascón. Now, she could make trans history
-
What to know about NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission
-
Virginia shooting leaves 4 kids, 1 adult injured: Police
-
Seattle police officer put on leave after newspaper reports alleged off-duty racist comments