23andMe hack: What happened and how can I protect myself from data breaches?
The latest threat to data security has affected more than 6.9 million users of 23andme.
The ancestry and genetics company reported that "threat actors" used about 14,000 accounts to access the ancestry data of 6.9 million. These hackers reportedly were able to secure user names and passwords that were used for 23andme from other compromised websites that were the same, according to the company.
"We do not have any indication that there has been a breach or data security incident within our systems, or that 23andMe was the source of the account credentials used in these attacks," a company spokesperson said in an email with USA Today.
The company reported it is currently contacting the people affected by this and has upped security measures for existing users.
But if you have been affected by this or another data breach, here are some thing you can do to protect yourself.
23andme hackers: What is the company doing to protect information?
According to 23andMe's website, the company is sending out emails to those users who were part of the cyber attack and taking measures to ensure that other users information isn't compromised.
"23andMe has completed its investigation, assisted by third-party forensics experts. We are in the process of notifying affected customers, as required by law," according to information posted on the site. "We have taken steps to further protect customer data, including requiring all existing customers to reset their password and requiring two-step verification for all new and existing customers. The company will continue to invest in protecting our systems and data."
How often do data breaches happen?
In the age of all things digital, more often than any of us would like.
In 2022, more than 422 million individuals were affected by a reported 1,802 data breaches.
How do people get my personal information?
Cybercriminals get their hands on a host of your data through hacks, leaks, physical theft, human error, phishing attacks, ransomware, and other means.
From the smallest communities in Tennessee to cities like New York breaches in security have been reported and it is an ongoing issue.
What do I do if I get contacted about a data breach?
First things first, double-check the information that you received about possible fraud or a data breach is legitimate. Another way to steal your information can be to use the threat of a data breach against you.
From there, consumer technology guru Kim Komando has some steps to take to make sure your information (and possibly money) is secure.
◾ Call your bank and credit card providers. Freeze and replace all your cards.
◾ Place a fraud alert on your credit file. You only need to contact one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion.
The FTC lists the real websites and phone numbers here.
◾ Monitor your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity. It could take time for anything strange to show up, so stay vigilant on this one.
◾ Change your account passwords. It’s a pain, but this is your first line of defense. Remember, once a password is exposed, it’s off-limits for any other accounts.
◾ Monitor your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity. It could take time for anything strange to show up, so stay vigilant on this one.
◾ Change your account passwords. It’s a pain, but this is your first line of defense. Remember, once a password is exposed, it’s off-limits for any other accounts.
Take a look at more suggestions and precautions to take from Kommando here.
How to create a strong password
Looking to protect your information? A strong and varied password protection is recommended and is your first line of defense in cyber security.
Trying to memorize a long string of numbers, letters and symbols can be difficult. Passwords don’t need to be overcomplicated, a phrase or a string of words that will be easy to remember with some special characters and numbers thrown in can be just as strong as something that is generated randomly.
USA Today contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 23andMe hack affects 7M users: How to prevent a data breach
