Download and delete your 23andMe genetic data now

Happy Friday

For those of you who have asked me in the past what I thought of of genetic testing sites such as Ancestry.com, HomeDNS, MyHeritage and 23andMe - I have always said that it's a bad idea to hand your unchangeable, private and highly valuable health, heritage and genetic data to a private, for-profit corporation. What for? To find out that you're 2% Mongolian? These services have always made me nervous, and you should be too as the first domino has now fallen.

After years of data breaches, lawsuits and financial struggles, 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and plans to sell the accumulated genetic data for approximately 15 million people. A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge recently granted them permission to sell their genetic data, easily the company's most valuable asset.

What happens to my genetic data when 23andMe is sold?

23andMe's privacy policy states that your personal information, including genetic data, may be accessed, sold, or transferred to the new owner. They could potentially use your data for purposes you did not originally consent to such as AI training, medical research or plain old simple marketing to send you even more hyper targeted ads. In my opinion, that last one is the most likely, inevitable outcome.

The Takeaway

If you or someone you know has ever used 23andMe since they opened their doors in 2006, I highly recommend that you download your genetic data, delete your account and request the destruction of your genetic samples to protect it from falling into the wrong hands. Here's how...

To request the destruction of your genetic samples: 1) Log in to your 23andMe account

2) Navigate to the "Settings" section of your profile

3) Scroll down to "Preferences" under the account settings page

4) Update your preferences to request that any stored biological samples (such as saliva samples) be destroyed I also recommend that you ask them to delete your genetic data: 1) Log in to your 23andMe account

2) Go to the "Settings" section

3) Scroll to the "23andMe Data" section at the bottom of the page

4) Click "View" next to "23andMe Data" Tip: you have the option to download your data at this step - I recommend doing this and storing it in a safe place

5) Scroll to the "Delete Data" section

6) Click "Permanently Delete Data"

Stay safe out there. -Attila PS. f you want to hear more about scams and other IT security topics, all for free, check out our Cyber Secured Podcast series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts or any other place you listen to podcasts (we're on all of them). New - the Positivity Box Tired of hearing about negative, fearful and disturbing cybersecurity news? Me too. You may be surprised to learn that good things happen in IT security. Let's celebrate them! In a public announcement this week by Interpol, in an international operation spanning seven African countries, over 300 scammers were arrested who had been involved mobile banking, investment and messaging app scams. The effort was coordinated by Interpol and authorities from Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Togo and Zambia. They uncovered a cross-border criminal network that had defrauded over 5,000 victims, many of which were likely US citizens. It's good to hear that we're catching some of these cyber criminals!

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And of course... the Friday Funnies!

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What is your DNA’s favorite exercise clothes? Jogging genes. What do you get when you cross a parrot with a lion? I don't know, but when it speaks you better listen. What do you get when you cross a bridge with a bicycle?

The other side.