Attorney General Bonta Issues Urgent Consumer Alert to 23andMe Customers

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued an urgent consumer alert to customers of the genetic testing company 23andMe. This alert comes in the wake of a significant data breach that compromised the personal information of millions of users. The breach, which was discovered in October, involved the theft of data from about 6.9 million users, including ancestry reports and genetic information.

The Attorney General's alert emphasizes the importance of monitoring personal accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activity. Bonta advises affected individuals to be vigilant and to take immediate action if they notice any unauthorized use of their personal information. This includes setting up fraud alerts with credit bureaus and regularly checking bank statements.

23andMe has confirmed the breach and is working with law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to investigate the incident and enhance their security measures. The company has also notified affected users and offered them credit monitoring services to help protect against identity theft.

This incident highlights the growing concerns over the security of personal data, especially sensitive genetic information. As more people turn to genetic testing services for health and ancestry insights, the need for robust data protection becomes increasingly critical. The Attorney General's office is committed to holding companies accountable for safeguarding consumer data and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

• 23andMe
• California
• Rob Bonta