To ask if you're deleting you're 23 and me account

[OptimismvsRealism]

It's probably stupid to keep it isn't it

Gave tests to my parents too in the past so suppose had better tell them too

There are a large number of donor conceived people who want to connect with their half-siblings, as one example.

I think that’s a bit of an overreaction. in my case the benefits of using it, outweigh any perceived risk.

Last I heard there was a disagreement about taking the company private again rather than listed.

It was the authentication system that was hacked not the site itself. It now has 2 stage authentication. I don’t think anyone is interested in my DNA apart from me.

Its useful for family history as it has one of the biggest databases.

My wait with the what now..........?

What is 23 and me?

?

I get all that, but now their DNA is all over the dark web, being used for god knows what.

You don't know that even if they don't sell though, surely? Companies lie all the time and can be hacked surprisingly easy (as has been proven here).

I keep hoping I will be cloned and a more rubbish version of me is out there so I can say "ha" to my parents about my life choices .

Though in reality they will be better than me probably 😭
On a positive note they will only be about 8 so I can be a warning of what happens if you eat all the cake.
Swings and roundabouts.

I have no idea what you are talking about but sorry NRTWT

No one hacked their DNA raw data - a few profiles were visible to some, so your email address & anything you’d put in public domain for marches to see, that’s it.

*Matches

Well I found a whole new family who I had no idea existed. So for me once the shock wore off I was happy I’d done it. Someone can buy my DNA, i don’t care. But i appreciate if I was genetically Jewish I might.

That's not what I meant. I was thinking more of why any sane person would willingly send their DNA sample to some random company to do what they like with.

I don’t think dejecting your account will solve anything. The main issue is you gave your DNA to a commercial enterprise along with signing small print to say they can basically use it in any way they like.

What is the best case scenario with these types of data/dna websites?

I can see downsides but not really any positives.

Someone can buy my DNA, i don’t care.

What about when you can’t get holiday insurance for medical cover?

Or you can’t get a job because employers have checked out your genetic predispositions?

Just 2 examples off the top of my head. I’m sure people think that’ll never happen, but I wouldn’t put money on it.

In a Gattaca future maybe, but no data breach on the DNA at 23andme historically & identity theft from a club card a much bigger real risk in real time

It was an American company and they paid out a considerable amount to those affected. Some countries are much more trusted then others. For example if I have a choice over US/European company vs China/Russia/India, i know who i would feel more confident in.

I wasn't talking about a data breach though. As I said earlier, the company is on the brink of collapse. Their T&C’s are clear that in the event of a merger or acquisition, all of your information is a saleable asset.

As for deleting an account and trusting that they will delete all of your stored infomation. Well that didn't work out too well for the users of the Ashley Madison (affairs/dating) site.

We're supposed to be psychic innit.

It is in the news

To find long lost relatives

The breach did not connect DNA results to user details, nor did it actually reach into the diagnostics in the first place. I'll have a look at what actually gets deleted if I delete my account, but I'm pretty sure the DNA would stay as an anonymous file.

Seems far fetched to me but i wasn’t genetically disposed to anything so hopefully I’d get cheap travel insurance 💪

I don’t think anyone is interested in my DNA apart from me

incredibly naive

You are far more at risk from credit card details being exposed than any existential threat from DNA.

Ok, you're being deliberately obtuse. Got it.