Subj : 23andMe set to pay millions to settle data breach lawsuit
To   : All
From : TechnologyDaily
Date : Mon Sep 16 2024 18:15:05

23andMe set to pay millions to settle data breach lawsuit

Date:
Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
If the judge approves the settlement terms, 23andMe will pay out millions and 
will have to run regular security audits.

FULL STORY
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Genetics testing company 23andMe has agreed to terms which could settle the 
class-action lawsuit it is currently facing following a major data breach. 

News broke in October 2023 that a hacker had accessed accounts belonging to 
23andMe users , with subsequent investigations confirming DNA Relatives 
profiles of some 5.5 million people were accessed, as well as Family Tree 
profile information of some 1.4 million DNA Relative participants. 

The hackers started their grand theft data in April 2023, and were active 
until September the same year. The terms of the settlement 

In January 2024, the company laid the blame for the breach on its customers, 
as since the hackers used credential stuffing to access the accounts, 23andMe 
said users, negligently recycled and failed to update their passwords 
following past security incidents unrelated to 23andMe." 

Therefore, the incident was not a result of 23andMes alleged failure to 
maintain reasonable security measures, it said at the time. 

The victims still filed a class-action lawsuit, which the firm is now close 
to settling, with all that remains is for the judge to approve the terms. 

Under the settlement terms, which the judge still needs to approve, 23andMe 
will pay out $30 million to affected customers, and will conduct annual 
computer scans and cybersecurity audits for the next three years. It will set 
up a dedicated website to notify eligible individuals of the payout, and will 
provide everyone with an easy way to delete all their files from the companys 
servers. 

Finally, victims will receive a three-year Privacy & Medical Shield + Genetic 
Monitoring program for free. 

How the settlement affects the companys business remains to be seen. Reuters 
says 23andMe described its financial condition as extremely uncertain, with 
revenues down by a quarter (from $299m to $220m) year-on-year. 

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Link to news story:
https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/23andme-set-to-pay-millions-to-settle-d
ata-breach-lawsuit


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