23andMe Under Siege: Hacker Reportedly Steals Millions Of Profiles In Genetic Data Heist

An unidentified hacker reportedly claims to have stolen personal genetic data from millions of 23andMe Holding Co. ME customer accounts, sparking concerns over privacy and security.

The stolen data, a treasure trove of sensitive information including email addresses, photos and DNA ancestries, is now purportedly up for grabs in the murky underworld of a hacker forum, according to a news report by Bloomberg.

The information of nearly 7 million 23andMe users was offered for sale on a cybercriminal forum this week, another news report from The Record noted. The scraping incident leaked data on 1.3 million users of Ashkenazi and Chinese descent, it reported. 

The hacker's audacious claim suggests that the stolen profiles could be weaponized to target individuals based on ethnicity, The Record added.

23andMe's Clarification

The company, caught in the crosshairs of the alarming revelation, initially dismissed the hacker's claims as "misleading." However, a deeper probe unveiled a more disturbing reality. Unauthorized access to individual accounts enrolled in the DNA Relative feature was confirmed, exposing a vulnerability that the company is now scrambling to address, according to The Record's report.

Deepening Investigation

"We are taking this issue seriously and will continue our investigation to confirm these preliminary results," 23andMe told The Record. The company is now meticulously combing through its security protocols, determined to fortify the defenses safeguarding their customers' intimate genetic data, the report added. 

As the investigation continues to unfold, stocks related to cybersecurity and data privacy, such as CyberArk Software Ltd. CYBR and Proofpoint, Inc. PFPT could experience volatility. 

Investors and market watchers may keep a close eye, as revelations from the investigation could trigger significant market movements.

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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