DATA BREACH - 23andMe Jewish & Chinese Consumers May be Affected
23andMe (NASDAQ: ME) experienced a major data breach in December 2023, affecting 7 million users. Hackers targeted Jewish and Chinese customers, extracting and selling their genetic information on the dark web. The breach was disclosed in December 2023, but the specific targeting was concealed until a recent class action complaint. Hackers leaked lists of over 1 million Jewish and 350,000 Chinese customers, raising serious safety concerns. The company has yet to inform all affected users. Legal action is underway, and affected individuals in certain states are urged to seek compensation.
- 23andMe has attracted attention to its cybersecurity protocols, potentially leading to future improvements.
- Legal action may result in compensation for affected users, showcasing accountability.
- Data breach affected 7 million users, exposing sensitive personal and genetic information.
- Specific targeting of Jewish and Chinese customers raises severe ethical and safety concerns.
- Company concealed critical details about the breach from affected users, damaging trust.
- Potential legal liabilities from class action lawsuits could result in significant financial losses.
- Increased scrutiny and negative publicity may harm 23andMe's reputation and customer base.
Insights
The data breach at 23andMe has notable financial ramifications. Such breaches can lead to severe economic consequences, including legal liabilities and reputational damage. The current lawsuit may result in substantial monetary payouts as compensation to affected customers, which could negatively impact the company's financial standing. Investors should be wary of potential regulatory fines and the cost of enhancing cybersecurity measures. Additionally, the trust erosion among users could lead to a decrease in customer retention and slowed growth in the user base, further impeding revenue growth.
The legal ramifications of this breach are significant. The fact that 23andMe allegedly concealed the extent and nature of the data breach, specifically targeting Jewish and Chinese customers, adds layers of complexity to the ongoing lawsuit. The company's apparent failure to promptly inform affected parties may lead to heightened scrutiny from regulatory bodies and lead to additional legal challenges. This may result in higher litigation costs, potential class action suits and a prolonged period of legal uncertainty. Businesses in highly sensitive sectors, like genetic data, must maintain stringent data protection standards to avoid similar legal repercussions.
This breach could significantly impact consumer trust in 23andMe. In the highly competitive market of genetic testing, data privacy is paramount. A breach of this magnitude can tarnish the brand's image, deterring both current and potential customers. Moreover, the company's attempt to shift the blame to customers using recycled login credentials further damages its credibility. For companies operating in this space, maintaining transparency and promptly addressing security issues is vital to sustain consumer confidence and market position.
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 14, 2024 / 23andMe (NASDAQ:ME) was hacked in December 2023, affecting approximately 7 million users of its genetic services website. According to a recently filed class complaint, hackers who infiltrated 23andMe's system were after the personal information of Jewish and Chinese customers, but the company hid that detail when notifying affected customers.
The hackers specifically targeted the personal genetic information of Jewish and Chinese customers and compiled that data - including genetic heritage, names, and addresses - into lists that were then sold on the dark web, but 23andMe concealed both those revelations when it announced the extent of the breach in December 2023.
According to the lawsuit, the hacker leaked a list of over 1 million Jewish customers expressly in retribution for the Israel-Hamas war. The hacker was also more than happy to leak a list of 350,000 Chinese customers upon request from a user with the alias "Wuhan."These lists generated a huge amount of interest from hackers on the dark web from all over the world and were shared and reshared an untold number of times.
The disclosure of these lists threatens the safety of those customers, including from the Chinese government, which has a long history of tracking Chinese citizens.
According to the lawsuit,to this day, 23andMe has not informed the 7 million compromised customers that their personal genetic information was disclosed on the dark web, nor has it told its Jewish and Chinese customers that they were specifically targeted.
IF YOU ARE A VULNERABLE person whose personal genetic information identifies you as having Ashkenazi Jewish heritage or Chinese ancestry, and/or live in California, Illinois, Oregon, or Alaska, please contact us to review your rights and eligibility for compensation:
ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND:
According to a recently filed class action complaint, on Oct. 1, 2023, a hacker using the alias "Golem" leaked the 23andMe data of 1 million Ashkenazi Jews on Breach Forums, calling it "the most valuable data you'll ever see."
"Golem's explicit targeting of Jewish 23andMe users is further conveyed by his use of the character 'Gollum' from The Lord of the Rings - a creature driven by greed with ugly and outsized facial features - as his profile picture."
A few hours later, a user with the alias "Wuhan" asked Golem if he had "Chinese accounts," according to the complaint. The next day, Golem leaked the data of 7 million users, saying in the post that the customer information included phenotype and health information, photos, and identification data.
Golem listed prices for the customer profiles at
Interest in the leaked Jewish and Chinese information was immediate and overwhelming following an Israeli bombing of a Palestinian hospital.
23andMe attempted to shift the blame to customers, telling them the breach was a result of customers using recycled login credentials from their accounts on other websites.Further, 23andMe then waited until December to report that 7 million customers were directly affected by the breach and didn't say anything about the data being sold on the dark web or that Jewish and Chinese customers were specifically targeted.
Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected customers are entitled to compensation. If you have received a notice about the data breach, you may be entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out more:
Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a
CONTACT:
Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
Joseph E. Levi, Esq.
Ed Korsinsky, Esq.
33 Whitehall Street, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10004
jlevi@levikorsinsky.com
Tel: (212) 363-7500
Fax: (212) 363-7171
https://zlk.com/
SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
View the original press release on accesswire.com
FAQ
What happened in the 23andMe data breach in December 2023?
How many users were affected by the 23andMe data breach?
Which customer groups were specifically targeted in the 23andMe data breach?
What kind of information was compromised in the 23andMe hack?
What is the consequence of the 23andMe data breach for Jewish and Chinese customers?
Has 23andMe informed all affected users about the data breach?
What legal actions are being taken against 23andMe for the data breach?
How can affected 23andMe users seek compensation for the data breach?
