Putting any personal data on line is problematic. Putting your DNA online is foolish.
I’m sure there is more to it than what I think.
My wife spent the $25 or whatever it was on one of those tests.
“Gee - it came back that you have a 80% match with Northern Europe and 20% in Scandinavia. But you knew that already!”
Like I said - there must be more to it than the results we see. I’ve seen articles where they end up solving some long-ago murder through these sites and matching the DNA from some distant cousin to the killer.
Besides the DNA, they also know who your ancestors were. They can display your whole family tree.
A few considerations:
If you set up an account with a company and give them your email address, you can get out by changing your email.
But you can’t change your biometrics. Biometric data is a permanent connection to you.
Think twice before you use a fingerprint or facial scan to access your PC.
Think twice before you send your DNA to anyone.
Think twice about offering retinal scans.
If any company offers free apps, free reports, free functionality etc, YOU are actually the company’s product (sell your data to others, if only in aggregate).
Google will be happy to give you instructions to navigate from one address to another. In exchange, you’re telling Google two of your locations and the time you’re there. And they know what is at those locations. They can learn a lot about you by combining these data. Then add a “smart thermostat” so they know when you’re home. Etc.
Be careful out there. Think. Protect your data.
What’s the other ancestry database from which we should remove our data?
Being a professional hacker for a US gov entity - I can tell you that this only erases the person doing this - their access to their data.
[The website gives you an option to expunge your DNA results through its settings menu, and all you’ll need to do it is your Ancestry.com username and password.]
Once done, the file does not reside on the server where it is located. I can tell you from personal experience that it still does in an off-site backup location.
Those files marked for deletion will in fact be deleted from the front-end web server and inaccessible by others looking for that information. The kicker is, when one had already signed a form to store their data on one of these sites - it is stored permanently. The TRACE BACK to other known relatives and all the other “fascinating things” these sites do to link people together - has those DNA records stored and itemized throughout the system.
The file path from the original owner of that data may be erased - but it can still be found. It’s a matter of how one retrieves it. Once it is downloaded and backups are created - it’s game over. The idea that those records are erased by clicking a button is just not realistic.
I find stuff all the time on people — stuff that should not have existed in the 1st place.
...just saying ...
DNA is an identifier that is on a higher level than a fingerprint. For this reason, I’ve always been paranoid that it can and will be used for nefarious purposes in the future, gleaned from these Ancestry companies.
NO thanks!
I’m OK to never learn I have a long lost cousin.
So they have your DNA. Turns out you have some latent health issues (like late-onset diseases).
So your insurance premiums go up a few surreptitious bucks at a time.
You won’t know why, but they will.
I am going to hack my data and enter DNA information from Project Bluebook , an alien DNA strand genetic sequence.
When they come for me, it will justify the hail of lead they will meet.They have no jurisdiction over non humans!They would have to join the Galactic Republic!
Nothing like UFO ( U F**k Off) DNA.
Seems to me that there are substantial HIPAA issues with selling DNA data. However, using deidentified data might be acceptable if the use is carefully reviewed by an IRB to ensure it does not violate anyone's rights.
I'm leaving my DNA data up at Ancestry.com. It's very useful for learning about my ancestry.
Whenever I hear the phrase “your information will be kept confidential “ I literally laugh out loud. If it’s not sold or shared, it will be stolen or hacked. I don’t bank or pay bills online and I will never willingly give up my DNA. George Orwell said we would be enslaved by political thought; Huxley said it would be technology. They were both right.
She’s got a horrible radio show that I had to suffer through on a car ride once.
The word I think is paranoia.
James apparently suffers from acute paranoia
We ran into some folks who found out that their Mom and/or Dad were really not their Mom and/or Dad; as well as those who had no DNA match with their supposed family tree! Also helped several adopted folks find their biological parents.
Attempting to track ancestry through DNA is a fool’s game, and I feel sorry for people who sucker into advice from supposed experts to get DNA tested to see how they fit into their heritage. Unrecorded adoptions of children whose parents died at young ages used to be as much the rule as the exception. Illegitimacy rates were almost as high as they are today.
And intrinsically, who do we inherit heritage from anyway? .....From DNA contributors or from the people who fashioned a chain of love and stability?
DNA evidence is not nearly as well received in official ancestry data records as it may seem. The people who push the idea that it is are the people trying to sell the service.
All i know is i signed up for Ancestor.com about 10? years ago..and then i decided to drop them...or tried to.
It took like 5 years to get them from spamming me ...several times a week for years!
Walmart..Amtrak ...State Farm ...are almost as bad.
My dad’s brother did the dna test,
.....( I never will)....
....no Native American connection
Dad constantly told me his grandmother was American Indian, from his mom’s mom.....she helped raise him......I’ve seen pictures......definitely I believe what dad said is true
His brother, however found no connection with the dna thing.....
And yes they had the same mom
The military has been including a packet containing large bloodstains in the member’s medical records to be used to identify any unidentified casualties. When the Veterans Administration requests service medical records to process disability claims, the packet with the bloodstains in it ends up with the VA. The military also takes finger prints which are also sent to the FBI. The Air Force also takes foot prints.
I’m immune to this problem. I know I’m hienz 57, the best seven dogs in town. I don’t need to pay someone to find that out.