The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Topic started by: Free Vulcan on June 11, 2018, 06:01:20 pm

Title: Why a DNA data breach is much worse than a credit card leak
Post by: Free Vulcan on June 11, 2018, 06:01:20 pm

This week, DNA testing service MyHeritage revealed that hackers had breached 92 million of its accounts. Though the hackers only accessed encrypted emails and passwords — so they never reached the actual genetic data — there’s no question that this type of hack will happen more frequently as consumer genetic testing becomes more and more popular. So why would hackers want DNA information specifically? And what are the implications of a big DNA breach?

https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/6/17435166/myheritage-dna-breach-genetic-privacy-bioethics (https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/6/17435166/myheritage-dna-breach-genetic-privacy-bioethics)

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They hope the DNA data wasn't hacked, or that it wasn't an inside job, or that the govt or others with nefarious expermental or analytics intent didn't do it.

Title: Re: Why a DNA data breach is much worse than a credit card leak
Post by: driftdiver on June 11, 2018, 06:09:00 pm

Genetic data is protected by HIPAA.  Not that it helps much once its out there.