DNA databases can send the police or hackers to your door, study finds

"Genetic genealogy databases act like a GPS system for anonymous DNA,” one researcher said.

More than 60 percent of Americans who have some European ancestry can be identified using DNA databases — even if they have not submitted their own DNA, researchers reported Thursday.

Enough people have done some kind of DNA test to make it possible to match much of the population, the researchers said. So even if you don’t submit your own DNA, if a cousin does, it could lead people to you.

They said their findings, published in the journal Science, raise concerns about privacy. Not only could police use this information, but so could other people seeking personal information about someone.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...-study-n919236