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AncestryDNA Recommended After 23andMe Data Fallout

After 23andMe's data breach, lawsuits, layoffs and Chapter 11 filing, it's been removed from our DNA kit comparison. AncestryDNA emerges as the top at-home option for genealogy and basic health reports — strong ethnicity estimates, family matching and consent controls. If you used 23andMe, download your data and follow deletion and sample-destruction steps.

Published August 21, 2025 at 05:14 AM EDT in Cybersecurity

What changed and why 23andMe is off the list

Since our original comparison, 23andMe has suffered a major data breach affecting millions, faced lawsuits, seen board resignations and filed for Chapter 11. Those events raise serious questions about the safety and future stewardship of customer DNA data, so we've removed 23andMe from our recommended roster.

Why AncestryDNA is now our top pick

AncestryDNA stands out for genealogy-first features: a large matching database, detailed ethnicity estimates and tools that help you connect family members. The kit uses a saliva collection tube, straightforward registration via app or web, and gives both an Ethnicity Estimate and an AncestryHealth report.

  • Large database improves match accuracy and family-search results
  • Clear consent choices for sample storage and research participation
  • Separate health and genealogy flows — good for focused family history searches

Pros, cons and pricing at a glance

AncestryDNA is strong on ethnicity and family-matching but less focused on clinical-grade health screening. The AncestryHealth report flags potential risks and carrier status, but it is not FDA-approved as a diagnostic tool.

  • AncestryDNA ($99): basic ethnicity and matching in the U.S. database
  • AncestryDNA + Family Tree (~$100): adds international record access
  • Traits + All Access (~$199): historical records and extra trait reports

Kits and vendors we advise caution with

Some cheaper or niche offerings produce inconsistent results or have spotty reputations. Exercise extra caution with:

  • HomeDNA and similar retail-branded tests — limited depth and variable accuracy
  • African Ancestry — mtDNA/Y-DNA focus yields different scopes and limited consensus among experts

If you’ve used 23andMe: immediate steps

If you have a 23andMe account, act now to control your data. Download any raw or report files you want to keep, then consider deleting your account and requesting your sample be destroyed if it was stored.

  • Download your genetic data and reports (some exports can take up to 30 days)
  • Delete your 23andMe account via their privacy tools and request sample destruction if applicable

Takeaways for consumers and organizations

DNA testing can reveal powerful personal and medical insights, but that value comes with long-term privacy risk. Before you buy or submit a sample, read a company’s data policy, check consent options and decide whether you want your sample stored for future research or sale. Organizations that handle genomic data should perform strict vendor risk assessments and make data-retention choices transparent to customers.

At QuarkyByte we analyze vendor practices, map data flow and quantify exposure so businesses and public agencies can protect sensitive genetic records and meet compliance demands. If genomic privacy matters to you or your organization, treat provider selection as a security decision, not just a product choice.

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