23andMe’s hacked data on Jewish users offered for sale online

The corporate stated it had reported the matter to legislation enforcement and that this was the primary incident of its form on the agency.

The info doesn’t embrace genomic particulars, that are especially sensitive, however does embrace usernames, regional places, profile images, and start years. The usernames are sometimes one thing aside from full authorized names.

23andMe stated it was encouraging customers to alter their passwords and use two-factor authentication to forestall others from logging in below their title.

On-line posts providing the information on the market in underground boards stated patrons might purchase 100 profiles for $1,000 or as many as 100,000 for $100,000. One publish stated the particular person had uploaded a big database of Ashkenazi Jews. The corporate spokeswoman stated that would come with individuals with even 1% Jewish ancestry.

A number of the posts used the deal with “Golem,” a reference to a humanoid beast in Jewish folks tales.

The info taken from 23andMe might cowl greater than half of the corporate’s 14 million prospects, primarily based on the variety of individuals who’ve opted to make their information seen to kinfolk, together with distant cousins.

Whereas the reference to Jews might need been designed to attract consideration and enhance the percentages of transactions, it comes throughout a time of elevated rhetorical and bodily assaults on Jews in the USA. Antisemitism has gotten extra traction previously 12 months on social networks for conspiracy theories that blame Jews for unlawful immigration, media manipulation or monetary misdeeds.