After delivering a new “open” AI model with better performance on a single GPU, Google has now introduced an update to the AI models for its products with Gemini 2.5, which combines “a significantly enhanced base model with improved post-training” for better overall performance. It’s claiming that the first release, Gemini 2.5 Pro experimental, leads competition from OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and DeepSeek on common AI benchmarks that measure understanding, mathematics, coding, and other capabilities. The new model is available to access in Google AI Studio or for Gemini Advanced subscribers in the app’s model dropdown menu.

The company is also touting Gemini’s native multimodality as an advantage, as it’s able to interpret not just text, but also audio, still images, video, and code, and says that a 2 million token context window is “coming soon” to help it process more data. Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis called Gemini 2.5 Pro “an awesome state-of-the-art model, no.1 on LMArena by a whopping +39 ELO points, with significant improvements across the board in multimodal reasoning, coding & STEM,” in a post on X.

Google says it’s jumped forward in quality because Gemini models are now “reasoning” models that process tasks step-by-step and make more informed decisions, which they say results in better answers and responses for complex prompts. Now, the blog post reads, “…we’re building these thinking capabilities directly into all of our models, so they can handle more complex problems and support even more capable, context-aware agents.”

One demo video shows 2.5 Pro using those reasoning capabilities to program a video game based on a single prompt:

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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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.

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A report in the New York Post on Monday revealed the existence of a new 10-person FBI task force focused on vandalism and other activity aimed toward Tesla in response to the actions of Elon Musk.

Like Attorney General Pam Bondi’s re-announcement last week of old charges against people accused of targeting Tesla locations for vandalism and arson, today’s announcement didn’t come with specific new details. It did come with more statements calling the acts “domestic terrorism,” a line pushed by Musk, Trump, and others in recent weeks. FBI Director Kash Patel repeated the phrase while sharing the story on X, also saying, “The FBI has been investigating the increase in violent activity toward Tesla, and over the last few days, we have taken additional steps to crack down and coordinate our response.”

Unlike international groups branded as terrorism that the US government can bar support for, the US doesn’t have a similar formal designation for domestic terrorist groups. A recent report by Wired cites civil liberties experts who said possible effects of the designation could give law enforcement more surveillance authority over Musk protestors and possibly the ability to share information from investigations with Musk and Tesla.

CNBC reports that earlier on Monday, police said they’d found multiple “incendiary devices” at a Tesla showroom in Austin, Texas. The Post article also said the task force is “tracking” the “Tesla Takedown” mass protests scheduled for March 29th and looking into a “Dogeque.st” site that claimed to dox some Tesla owners and locations, which it said appears to be run out of Sao Tome, the second-smallest country in Africa. 404 Media reports that after going offline the same day it appeared, a version of the site has reappeared on the dark web.