Technology
Protect your genetic data: Urgent steps after 23andMe bankruptcy

The genetic testing company 23andMe, once a pioneer in consumer DNA testing, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid financial struggles, a leadership shakeup and growing concerns about the security of its customers’ genetic data. Let’s take a look at the implications of this development and some steps to safeguard your sensitive information.
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23andMe saliva collection kit (23andMe) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The fall of 23andMe: A timeline of challenges
23andMe’s journey from a $6 billion valuation in 2021 to bankruptcy in 2025 has been marked by significant hurdles.
- Data breach in 2023: A cyberattack compromised the genetic and personal data of nearly 7 million users, leading to lawsuits and reputational damage.
- Leadership reshuffle: CEO Anne Wojcicki resigned as part of the bankruptcy announcement, positioning herself as a potential buyer of the company.
- Financial decline: The company’s stock plummeted from over $300 per share to less than $1, reflecting its deteriorating financial health.
- Workforce reductions: In November 2024, 23andMe laid off 40% of its employees as part of restructuring efforts.
- Bankruptcy filing and sale process: On March 23, 2025, 23andMe initiated voluntary Chapter 11 proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri to facilitate a sale process aimed at maximizing the value of its business. The company intends to continue its normal operations throughout this process and has emphasized that there will be no changes to how customer data is stored, managed or protected.
Despite these challenges, the company has stated that its bankruptcy filing will not affect how it manages or protects customer data. However, concerns remain about the potential sale of its assets, including sensitive genetic information.

23andMe saliva collection kit (23andMe) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
23andMe board seeks to maximize value through a court-supervised sale
“After a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives, we have determined that a court-supervised sale process is the best path forward to maximize the value of the business,” said Mark Jensen, chair and member of the special committee of the board of directors of 23andMe. “We expect the court-supervised process will advance our efforts to address the operational and financial challenges we face, including further cost reductions and the resolution of legal and leasehold liabilities. We believe in the value of our people and our assets and hope that this process allows our mission of helping people access, understand and benefit from the human genome to live on for the benefit of customers and patients.”
Jensen continued, “We want to thank our employees for their dedication to 23andMe’s mission. We are committed to supporting them as we move through the process. In addition, we are committed to continuing to safeguard customer data and being transparent about the management of user data going forward, and data privacy will be an important consideration in any potential transaction.”

23andMe saliva collection kit (23andMe) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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What happens to your genetic data during bankruptcy?
When a company like 23andMe files for bankruptcy, its assets, including customer data, can become part of the sale process. While privacy laws in some states, such as California’s Genetic Information Privacy Act, require explicit consent before transferring genetic data to a new owner, the risk of misuse or unauthorized access remains.
23andMe has assured customers that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable privacy laws. However, genetic data is a valuable asset that could be exploited if not adequately safeguarded.
Additionally, only a week and a half ago, 23andMe updated their terms and conditions, which I’ve reviewed. They’ve added an important legal disclosure that could prevent an individual from filing a lawsuit with expectations of a court trial. Instead, unless you opt out by notifying 23andme within 30 days of first use, you are automatically bound to the new terms that force parties into an arbitration path for any legal remedies that could arise now or in the future.
I strongly urge you to protect your rights by emailing arbitrationoptout@23andme.com with a clear notification that you intend to opt out of arbitration. Make sure to use the email address associated with your 23andme account. That would be the first thing you should do in my next steps that you may wish to take to protect your rights and privacy now.
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Steps to protect your genetic data
If you’re a 23andMe user or considering using similar services, here are steps you can take to protect your sensitive information and safeguard your data from potential misuse or theft.
1) Opt out of arbitration: If you wish to retain your right to sue the company in case of future issues, opt out of arbitration agreements by emailing your notification to opt out of arbitration arbitrationoptout@23andme.com within 30 days of first use.
2) Review privacy preferences: Regularly check your privacy and data-sharing settings to ensure they align with your comfort level.
3) Limit research participation: Disable participation in research or product development initiatives if you’re concerned about how your data might be used.
4) Download and secure your data: Before considering account deletion, download your genetic record and store it securely on an encrypted device or cloud service.
5) Request data deletion: If you no longer wish for your data to be stored by 23andMe, request its deletion through your account settings. Ensure you also ask for the destruction of any physical samples.
6) Use strong passwords and multifactor authentication: Creating unique, complex passwords for each of your accounts and devices is essential. Avoid reusing passwords across multiple accounts; this kind of password reuse was a factor in the recent 23andMe data breach. Enable two-factor authentication wherever it’s offered to add an extra layer of security that helps prevent unauthorized access even if your password is compromised. Check out my best expert-reviewed password managers for 2025 here.
7) Monitor for suspicious activity and use identity theft protection: Genetic data leaks can lead to identity theft or medical fraud. Consider signing up for an identity theft protection service that monitors personal information, such as your Social Security number, phone number and email, alerting you if this data is found on the dark web. Some identity theft services also include up to $1 million in identity theft insurance to cover losses and legal fees and a dedicated fraud resolution team with a U.S.-based case manager to help you recover any stolen assets or identity. See my expert recommendations here: Best identity theft protection services for 2025 here.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
The bankruptcy of 23andMe serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with sharing sensitive genetic information. While the company has pledged to maintain its privacy standards during this turbulent period, consumers must remain vigilant. By taking control of your data now, whether through enhanced privacy settings or deletion, you can better protect yourself against potential misuse in uncertain times.
Do you think genetic testing companies are doing enough to protect your data in the face of financial instability and potential bankruptcy? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Alert: Malware steals bank cards and passwords from millions of devices.
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Technology
A pirated iOS port of Blue Prince is climbing the App Store charts

Apple’s App Store review has yet again let at least one unofficial mobile port of a hot new game show up on the store – this time, it’s Blue Prince.
In a joint post on Monday, Blue Prince’s developer, Dogubomb, and its publisher, Raw Fury, said that they have “received reports of games claiming to be Blue Prince on iOS.” Currently, the game is only available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
I easily found one iOS copy of the game just by searching Blue Prince on the App Store – it was the first search result. The icon looks like it would be the icon for a hypothetical mobile version of the game, the listing has screenshots that look like they’re indeed from Blue Prince, and the description for the game matches the description on Steam.
But on the iOS clone’s listing, the game’s seller is listed as “Samet Altinay,” and I can’t find any connection between this person and Blue Prince outside of this App Store listing. The copyright is also attributed to “DogBomb,” instead of Dogubomb.
I purchased this unofficial version of Blue Prince, which costs $9.99, and installed it on my iPhone 16 Pro to test it out. In a few minutes of playing, it appears to be a barely-modified version of the actual Blue Prince game, though with a few tweaks to make it better-suited for mobile, like a virtual joystick. I’ve also already run into a major bug: when I tried to walk through one of the doors from the Entrance Hall, I fell through the floor.
Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. According to the listing, this unofficial mobile port is the #8 paid app in the Entertainment category on iOS. But so far, it only has one three-star review, with the writer saying they also hit a bug that caused them to fall through the floor.
Dogubomb and Raw Fury have not officially announced an iOS port of Blue Prince. “We have no news about other platforms at this time, but if that changes we will make an official announcement,” they said in the post. “While we investigate we would kindly ask that you do not purchase or download these apps.”
Apple has previously allowed copycats of games like Wordle and Palworld to appear on the App Store.
Technology
FBI warns of time-traveling hackers

Cybercriminals always find new ways to scam you, whether it’s mimicking a government agency, creating a fake website or delivering malware disguised as a software update. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, they come up with a new trick.
This time, the FBI has issued an alert: Hackers are using a “time-traveling” technique to bypass your device’s security measures. No, we’re not talking about actual time travel (though wouldn’t that be something?). This is a sophisticated cyberattack where hackers manipulate a system’s internal clock to sneak past security defenses.
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A man working on his laptops (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know
The concept of “time-traveling hackers” refers not to literal time travel but to a sophisticated cyberattack technique where hackers manipulate a system’s internal clock to bypass security measures. This attack is reportedly tied to the Medusa ransomware gang.
In this type of attack, hackers exploit expired security certificates by altering the system date on a targeted device to a time when those certificates were still valid. For example, a security certificate that expired in, say, 2020 could be made usable again if the system’s clock is set back to 2019. This allows malicious software signed with these outdated certificates to be recognized as legitimate by the system, effectively “traveling back in time” from a security perspective.
This technique was notably used in the Medusa ransomware attacks, which targeted critical infrastructure and prompted an FBI cybersecurity advisory (AA25-071A) earlier in 2025. The campaign has affected over 300 critical infrastructure targets. The attackers combined this method with social engineering and exploited unpatched vulnerabilities, amplifying the threat.
The FBI has warned that such attacks pose a significant risk, as they can disable modern security protections like Windows Defender by tricking the system into accepting outdated drivers or software.

A woman working on her laptop and scrolling on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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What does the FBI recommend?
Traditional search and rescue tools, like rigid robots and specialized cameras, often struggle in disaster zones. Cameras follow only straight paths, forcing teams to cut through debris just to see further in. Rigid robots are vulnerable in tight, unstable spaces and expensive to repair when damaged. And manual probing is slow, exhausting and risks responder safety.

A man working on his laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
RELENTLESS HACKERS ABANDON WINDOWS TO TARGET YOUR APPLE ID
5 ways to stay safe from Medusa malware
1) Use strong antivirus software: A strong antivirus isn’t just for catching old-school viruses anymore. It can detect phishing links, block malicious downloads and stop ransomware before it gets a foothold. Since the Medusa gang uses fake updates and social engineering to trick users, having strong antivirus software adds a critical layer of protection against threats you might not see coming. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): The FBI specifically recommends enabling 2FA across all services, especially for high-value targets like webmail accounts, VPNs and remote access tools. 2FA makes it significantly harder for attackers to break in, even if they’ve managed to steal your username and password through phishing or other tactics.
3) Use strong, unique passwords: Many ransomware groups, including Medusa, rely on reused or weak passwords to gain access. Using a strong password (think long, random and unique to each account) greatly reduces that risk. A password manager can help you generate and store complex passwords so you don’t have to remember them all yourself. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.
4) Monitor for suspicious system time changes: The core of this “time-traveling” attack is clock manipulation: Hackers roll back a device’s clock to a time when expired security certificates were still valid. This allows outdated and potentially malicious software to appear trustworthy. Be alert to unexpected system time changes, and if you’re managing an organization, use tools that flag and log these types of configuration shifts.
5) Keep systems updated and patch known vulnerabilities: The Medusa ransomware campaign has a track record of exploiting unpatched systems. That means old software, outdated drivers and ignored security updates can all become entry points. Regularly installing updates for your OS, applications and drivers is one of the most effective ways to stay protected. Don’t put off those system notifications; they exist for a reason.
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Kurt’s key takeaway
The Medusa attack is a good example of how cybercriminals are shifting tactics. Instead of relying on traditional methods like brute force or obvious exploits, they are targeting the basic logic that systems depend on to function. In this case, it is something as simple as the system clock. This kind of strategy challenges the way we think about security. It is not just about building stronger defenses but also about questioning the default assumptions built into the technology we use every day.
How do you think technology companies can better support individual users in protecting their data and devices? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Nike is facing a lawsuit from people who bought its NFTs

A group of people sued Nike this week over its decision to wind down its virtual show project RTFKT last year. The buyers of the digital assets accuse Nike of causing “the rug to be pulled out from under them,” and say they wouldn’t have bought its NFTs if they’d known they were “unregistered securities,” reports Reuters.
Filed in New York’s Eastern District, the proposed class action lawsuit seeks “unspecified damages of more than $5 million for alleged violations of New York, California, Florida and Oregon consumer protection laws.”
Nike tried to jump into the NFT game by buying RTFKT in 2021. But, like Starbucks Odyssey, it never quite worked out and the company abandoned the idea, announcing in December via the RTFKT X account that it planned to “wind down RTFKT operations” by the end of January this year.
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