A group of hackers on the website BreachForums has recently stolen user data from the genealogy testing company 23andMe. The hackers specifically targeted two groups: people of Jewish descent and people of Chinese descent.
The stolen data centered on one particular subset of the Jewish diaspora, Ashkenazi Jews, who migrated to the Western Hemisphere from Central and Eastern Europe.
Although 23andMe confirmed that data had been compromised, the company maintained that its systems had not been breached. They suggested that the hackers gained access to certain accounts where users recycled login credentials. This means that usernames and passwords used on 23andMe.com were the same as those used on other websites that have been previously hacked.
The hacking incident has had a significant impact, affecting at least one million users of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and hundreds of thousands of people of Chinese descent, according to Wired.
The hackers are now attempting to sell the stolen data from the hacked profiles. A screenshot from BreachForums, published by the information security and technology news publication Bleeping Computer, reveals that the hackers are offering to sell 100 profiles for $1,000, 1,000 profiles for $5,000, 10,000 profiles for $20,000, and 100,000 profiles for $100,000.
The collection of hacked user data is titled “Ashkenazi DNA Data of Celebrities,” as reported by NBC News. However, despite the title, most of the individuals included in the database are not celebrities.
Concerns have been raised that this stolen data could potentially be used by hate groups, such as Nazis, to amplify their targeting of specific ethnic or religious groups.
WealthNationUSA Perspective:
This incident highlights the growing concern around data breaches and the protection of personal information. It serves as a reminder of the need for individuals to prioritize strong and unique passwords for each online account they create. Additionally, it emphasizes the responsibility of companies to implement robust security measures to safeguard customer data. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial that privacy and security are given utmost importance in order to protect individuals from potential harm.
