DNA Double-Helix Hacker Heist: A Wake-Up Call for Cybersecurity Vigilance

5th December 2023 | Blog

DNA Double-Helix Heist

DNA Double-Helix Hacker Heist: The recent breach at 23andMe, a centralized DNA database for millions of people around the world, has sent shockwaves across the cybersecurity community. It’s a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in our online digital world.

Why is this breach so significant?

The breach was not just any data theft. Hackers targeted 23andMe, stealing priceless data: our DNA. This breach affects at least 6.9 million users who trusted the company with their genetic information.

23andMe’s appeal lay in its ability to reveal ancestral roots and health propensities. Users, eager to discover their heritage, willingly provided saliva samples for DNA analysis. However, the breach has exposed not just DNA data but also personal and family information.

What should MSPs and IT departments learn from this?

Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and IT departments must note this incident’s gravity. The breach isn’t just about stolen data; it’s about stolen identities at the most fundamental level. It underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

For MSPs, the incident highlights the importance of stringent cybersecurity protocols. It’s crucial to implement advanced security measures like encryption, multi-factor authenticated access, and regular audits for your clients. This is especially true for clients with critical Non-Public Personal Information – like your DNA! IT departments must ensure that all sensitive data, especially of genetic nature, is guarded with the highest security standards.

Are there other concerns related to this breach?

Data Privacy Concerns

The breach at 23andMe also raises questions about data consent and usage. MSPs and IT departments should reevaluate their policies regarding data usage and customer consent. It’s imperative to keep customers informed and provide options to opt-out of data sharing.

This incident should act as a catalyst for MSPs and IT departments to reinforce their cybersecurity defenses. Regular training, updated software, multi-factor authentication, and other strict access controls are essential. Cybersecurity is no longer a secondary concern; it’s a fundamental necessity.

Hate Crime Concerns

The breach’s aftermath also involves dealing with the fallout of targeted hate and discrimination. Rumors tied to this 23andme breach speak of targeted attacks against specific minority groups based upon their genetic profiles! This adds a layer of complexity to the responsibilities of cybersecurity teams we haven’t seen or considered before. MSPs and IT departments need to be vigilant about the data they protect, understanding its potential misuse.

Concluding thoughts on this breach

In conclusion, the DNA Double-Helix Hacker Heist at 23andMe is a wake-up call. It’s a reminder of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape. MSPs and IT departments must adapt swiftly and efficiently. Our digital world is vulnerable, and the responsibility to safeguard it is paramount. If you are responsible for critical data, whether healthcare, financial, or perhaps intellectual property, know that you will be targeted by hackers, and build a robust defense-in-depth cybersecurity program to protect it.

DNA Double-Helix Hacker Heist: More than a breach, it’s a lesson in cybersecurity vigilance.

CyberHoot’s minimum essential cybersecurity program recommendations:

The following recommendations will help you and your business stay secure with the various threats you may face on a day-to-day basis. All of the suggestions listed below can be gained by hiring CyberHoot’s vCISO services.

Govern employees with policies and procedures. You need a password policy, an acceptable use policy, an information handling policy, and a written information security program (WISP) at a minimum.
Train employees on how to spot and avoid phishing attacks. Adopt a Learning Management system like CyberHoot to teach employees the skills they need to be more confident, productive, and secure.
Test employees with phishing attacks to practice. CyberHoot’s Phish testing allows businesses to test employees with believable phishing attacks and put those that fail into remedial phish training.
Deploy critical cybersecurity technology including two-factor authentication on all critical accounts. Enable email SPAM filtering, validate backups, and deploy DNS protection, antivirus, and anti-malware on all your endpoints.
In the modern Work-from-Home era, make sure you manage personal devices connecting to your network by validating their security (patching, antivirus, DNS protections) or prohibiting their use entirely.
Conduct a risk assessment by a 3rd party. Establishing a risk management framework in your organization is critical to addressing your most egregious risks with your finite time and money.
Buy cyber-insurance to protect you in a catastrophic failure situation. Cyber-Insurance is no different than Car, Fire, Flood, or Life insurance. It’s there when you need it most.

Each of these recommendations, except cyber-insurance, is built into CyberHoot’s SaaS platform and our virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) services. With CyberHoot you can govern, train, assess, and test your employees. Visit CyberHoot.com and sign up for our services today. At the very least continue to learn by enrolling in our monthly Cybersecurity newsletters to stay on top of current cybersecurity updates.