Free Money from 23andMe's Data Breach Settlement: Here's How to File Your Claim
Hackers used a credential stuffing attack to gain access to 23andMe accounts in October 2023.
Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET
Ever used 23andMe? Well, now you may be able to get paid as part of the company's ongoing class-action settlement, but you'll have to move quickly. It's been a tough few years for the once-popular ancestry-tracking service, which in 2023 was struck by a prolonged data breach that allowed hackers to gain personal data for about half of the company's 14 million customers.
The company has struggled ever since then and filed for bankruptcy in March 2025. It is now being acquired by TTAM Research Institute, a nonprofit led by 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki, which outbid Regeneron Pharmaceuticals.
The San Francisco-based company, which allows people to submit genetic materials and get a snapshot of their ancestry, announced in October 2023 that hackers had accessed customer information in a data breach. A January 2024 lawsuit accused the company of not doing enough to protect its customers and not notifying certain customers with Chinese or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry that their data had been targeted specifically. It later settled the lawsuit for $30 million.
"We have executed a settlement agreement for an aggregate cash payment of $30 million to settle all US claims regarding the 2023 credential stuffing security incident," a 23andMe spokesman told CNET. "We continue to believe this settlement is in the best interest of 23andMe customers, and we look forward to finalizing the agreement."
A few months after that decision, there's now an official method available to make a claim and potentially get paid by 23andMe, in some cases as much as $10,000. Keep reading to get all the details you need, and for more, find out why T-Mobile settlement checks have been delayed and discover whether you can claim a piece of Apple's Siri privacy settlement.
How many people did the 23andMe data breach hit?
The settlement could cover roughly 6.9 million 23andMe customers whose data was targeted. To qualify, 23andMe customers must also have been US residents as of Aug. 11, 2023. That 6.9 million number includes around 5.5 million customers of 23andMe's DNA Relatives profiles, which lets people find and connect with genetic relatives. The other 1.4 million people affected by the breach used another service known as Family Tree, which predicts a family tree based on the DNA users share with relatives, 23andMe said.
How much money could I get from the settlement?
At the top end, 23andMe has said it would pay out up to $10,000 with an "Extraordinary Claim" to each customer who can verify that they suffered hardships as a direct result of their information being stolen in the data breach that resulted in unreimbursed costs. This includes costs from "identity fraud or falsified tax returns," acquiring physical security systems, or receiving mental health treatment.
Residents of Alaska, California, Illinois and Oregon who were affected by the data breach can also apply for a payment as part of the proposed settlement, since those states have genetic privacy laws with damages provisions. The payments for these individuals are expected to be around $100, depending on how many people file for them, a settlement document said. Also, a smaller subset of affected users whose personal health information was impacted by the breach will be able to apply for a payment of $100.
Infographic: Gianmarco Chumbe/CNET. Photo:Will the 23andMe settlement include anything else?
Beyond those payments, 23andMe will also offer impacted users three years of a security monitoring service called Privacy Shield, which filings described as providing "substantial web and dark web monitoring."
How can I file a claim for the 23andMe settlement?
To file a claim electronically, you can use this official online portal from the Kroll Restructuring Administration. An additional online form is available if you would like proof of your claim sent to you. Potential claimants can also download and print out hard copies of the claim form and proof of claim form if they wish to submit them by mail. If you plan to use this method, send your forms to one of the addresses listed on the claims website. The deadline to make a claim is July 14. For more, you can read about how class action lawsuits work.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
$800 Billion on the Line: Tesla's Robotaxi Rollout Faces Its First Real Test
Tesla's robotaxi vision is no longer just a promiseit's finally rolling, cautiously, through the streets of Austin. This week, the company began offering paid rides in a handful of modified Model Ys under a limited pilot program. The service is geofenced, invite-only, and each vehicle still includes a safety driver. Still, for Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), this is a pivotal moment. Autonomous driving now accounts for a massive chunk of the stock's valuation. RBC Capital pegs nearly 59% of its price target$181 per shareon robotaxis alone, with another $53 tied to monetizing Full Self Driving. That's over $800 billion in implied value based on long-term revenue models, not current profitability. But Tesla's launch has opened the door to some uncomfortable questions. While the company has long claimed all its vehicles are robotaxi-ready, Business Insider reports suggest otherwise. According to unnamed sources, Tesla is building specially modified Model Ys for the Austin launchcomplete with additional telecom systems and reinforced cameras. Meanwhile, Ashok Elluswamy, head of Autopilot engineering, recently mentioned the use of new audio sensors. These details raise doubts about whether Tesla's existing fleet can be flipped into a national robotaxi network as easilyor cheaplyas advertised. The strategy also now mirrors the one Tesla once mocked: a cautious, city-by-city rollout, much like Waymo's. Notably, Waymo already provides over 250,000 weekly rides and recently announced a tentative partnership with Toyota. The bigger challenge for Tesla? The clock just started ticking. After years of deferrals, the market now expects execution. Tesla's core EV business has hit a wallfalling sales, a lukewarm Cybertruck launch, and no sign of the long-promised affordable model. Since Elon Musk shifted focus to AI, robotaxis, and humanoid robots in early 2024, Tesla's forward multiple has more than doubled to around 140x. But lofty multiples built on future hopes require tractionfast. Goldman Sachs recently modeled a wide range of outcomes for Tesla's robotaxi program by 2040, with share value scenarios swinging from as low as $2.50 to as high as $81.75. For now, investors are betting big. But turning vision into reality is no longer optional. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
What to Expect From Wells Fargo's Next Quarterly Earnings Report
With a market cap of $260.2 billion, Wells Fargo & Company (WFC) is one of the largest financial services firms in the United States. Operating through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management, the company provides a broad range of financial solutions through 4,700+ retail branches, ATMs, digital platforms, and other global channels. The San Francisco, California-based company is expected to release its fiscal Q2 2025 earnings results before the market opens on Tuesday, Jul. 15. Ahead of this event, analysts expect WFC to report an adjusted EPS of $1.41, up over 6% from $1.33 in the prior year's quarter. It has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in the past four quarters. In Q1 2025, Wells Fargo exceeded the consensus adjusted EPS estimate by 3.3%. Dear Nvidia Stock Fans, Watch This Event Today Closely Can Broadcom Stock Hit $400 in 2025? A $2 Billion Reason to Sell Super Micro Computer Stock Now Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast the biggest U.S. mortgage lender to post adjusted EPS of $5.72, reflecting a 3.6% increase from $5.52 in fiscal 2024. Looking ahead, adjusted EPS is projected to grow 17.1% year-over-year to $6.70 in fiscal 2026. Shares of WFC have surged 40.3% over the past 52 weeks, outpacing both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 12.1% gain and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLF) 26.3% return over the period. Despite Wells Fargo's better-than-expected adjusted EPS of $1.27 for Q1 2025, shares fell marginally on Apr. 11 due to revenue of $20.2 billion, which missed analyst expectations and marked a 3.4% year-over-year decline. Investors were also concerned about a 6% drop in net interest income to $11.5 billion, which was weighed down by lower interest rates, deposit pricing pressures, and reduced loan balances. However, the stock surged over 3% on Jun. 18 primarily due to reports that federal regulators may cut the enhanced supplementary leverage ratio (eSLR) by up to 1.5 percentage points, potentially freeing up capital for increased trading and lending activities. Additionally, Raymond James analyst David Long raised its price target to $84, citing the Fed's removal of the asset cap. Analysts' consensus view on Wells Fargo's stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 25 analysts covering the stock, 15 recommend "Strong Buy," two suggest "Moderate Buy," and eight indicate 'Hold.' As of writing, WFC is trading below the average analyst price target of $81.64. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Sign in to access your portfolio
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Fourth of July barbecues will cost more in California. Here's a breakdown
Fireworks aren't the only thing accompanying Californians' Fourth of July celebrations this year - higher grocery prices will as well. A California cookout for 10 guests will cost $90.06, compared with the national average of $70.92 and Western regional average of $73.50, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual "marketbasket" survey. California-specific costs were included for the first time this year. The survey uses data collected by volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau members and others, from stores in every state and Puerto Rico to give consumers a snapshot of food costs. This year's national average of $7.09 per person for a cookout, marks the second-highest cost since the survey began in 2013. California shoppers face steep premiums on cookout staples. Ground beef costs $14.33 for two pounds - $1 more than the national average. Chicken breasts run $12.48 for two pounds versus $7.79 nationally, while three pounds of pork chops cost $19.30, compared with $14.13 nationwide. Even basic items carry higher price tags in California. Hamburger buns cost $3.42 per package ($1.07 above average) and cheese runs $3.87 per pound (33 cents more). Fresh strawberries cost $6.14 for two pints versus $4.69 nationally, while two and a half pounds of homemade potato salad totals $4.92 compared with $3.54 elsewhere, the American Farm Bureau Federation said. Ice cream, cookies and lemonade also cost more in the Golden State. "Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America's families," said Samantha Ayoub, associate economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. Several factors account for the higher costs in California and nationwide. Trump administration tariffs on Mexico and Canada, two of the biggest suppliers of fresh produce, have increased import costs, which most retailers pass on to consumers. In March, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on most goods from Canada and Mexico. The American Farm Bureau Federation's assessment focuses mostly on food and drink items primarily grown and produced in the U.S., making it challenging to determine the full tariff impacts. However, steel and aluminum tariffs have increased costs for canned goods such as pork and beans. "Market uncertainty remains a challenge for many California producers, but we are hopeful the announcements of several recent trade deals is an indication that the administration is making progress on this front," Matthew Viohl, California Farm Bureau director of policy advocacy, said in an emailed statement. Reduced cattle availability and recovering chicken populations hit by avian flu also pushed prices higher. Additionally, ICE raids across California have created widespread fear among agricultural workers, disrupting farm operations and potentially threatening food production. Workforce disruptions could threaten the state's ability to supply healthy food, drive up grocery prices for all Americans and jeopardize California's position as the nation's agricultural leader, said Bryan Little, senior director of policy advocacy for the California Farm Bureau. Higher grocery costs, however, don't benefit farmers, who receive only 15% of each retail food dollar while facing rising expenses for labor, transportation and taxes. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
