Hackers Access, Leak and Sell 23andMe User Data Targeting Ashkenazi Jews
Image: @23andMe/X
On Friday, the genetic testing company 23andMe confirmed that data from a subset of users, targeting those with Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry, has been compromised and listed for sale online.
Wired reports that the company suggests its systems were not breached but that the attackers were able to gather data by guessing the login credentials of a group of users and then using the feature DNA Relatives to scrape additional information to compile the list.
It is reported that the list of 999,999 people who have Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry has been shared on the internet, including the Dark Web.
The database includes first and last names, sex, and 23andMe’s evaluation of where their ancestors came from.
