Terms, disclaimer and privacy
Last updated 1 October 2026
The short version
- DNA Signpost is run by one independent genetic genealogist. Articles and guides are personal opinion and analysis, offered free and in good faith.
- It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or paid by any DNA testing company.
- Tool results are estimates based on stated assumptions and the data available. They can be wrong. Check anything important.
- Genealogy only. Nothing here is medical, health, legal or other professional advice.
- Your raw DNA files are read in your browser and are never uploaded.
- You use the site at your own risk.
Opinions and analysis
Articles reflect the author's own research and views at the date shown on each one. Genetic genealogy moves quickly: testing companies change their algorithms, reference populations and haplogroup trees are revised, and new evidence turns up. An older article may no longer be current. Where an article relies on someone else's data or research, it says so and links to the source.
No affiliation
AncestryDNA, 23andMe, MyHeritage, FamilyTreeDNA, GEDmatch and other company and product names mentioned on this site are trademarks of their respective owners. They are used only to identify the services being discussed. DNA Signpost is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any of them.
The Y-DNA Consistency Checker looks up FamilyTreeDNA's publicly available haplogroup tree. That data belongs to FamilyTreeDNA, and the tool links to their site for the full picture.
What the tools can and can't do
Each tool works from what you give it and from published reference data, using the assumptions it states. Consumer DNA tests only read a sample of positions, so some questions can't be settled from them; the tools say so rather than guess. Results are not a substitute for a more detailed test where one is needed (for example a full mtDNA sequence or a dedicated Y-DNA test).
Do not rely on anything on this site as proof of identity, parentage or relationship for legal, immigration, inheritance or similar purposes. Those need an accredited laboratory.
Not medical or professional advice
This site covers genealogy and ancestry only. It does not interpret health, medical or trait information and nothing on it should be read that way. Nothing here is legal, financial or other professional advice.
No warranty, and limits on responsibility
The site, its tools and its content are provided free and "as is", without any promise that they are accurate, complete, current or available. As far as the law allows, DNA Signpost and its author accept no responsibility for any loss, cost or decision arising from use of the site or reliance on its content. Nothing in these terms limits any liability that cannot legally be limited.
Links to other sites
Links to other websites are provided for convenience. Those sites are run by others, who are responsible for their content, terms and privacy practices.
Privacy
Here is exactly what the site collects:
- Your DNA files. Tools that read a raw DNA file do it entirely in your own browser. The file is never uploaded to this site or anywhere else, and nothing from it is stored.
- Y-DNA Consistency Checker. The haplogroup or SNP names you type are sent to this site's server, which looks them up on FamilyTreeDNA's public tree and returns the answer. FamilyTreeDNA sees a request from this site's server, not from you. This site does not save what you type, although because it travels as part of the web address it can appear in the hosting logs described below.
- Basic page-view counts (always on). When a page loads, the site records which page it was, the page you came from, any campaign tags in the link (such as utm_source), and whether you are on a phone or a computer. It sets no cookies and records no IP address or other identifier, so these counts can't be tied to you.
- Google Analytics (only if you agree). If you click Accept on the cookie message, the site loads Google Analytics. It sets cookies (whose names start with _ga) so that repeat visits can be counted, and tells Google which pages you view, how you arrived, your rough location (country or city), and your device and browser. This is used only to see which pages are useful and where visitors come from. Advertising features are switched off and the data is not shared with Google for other purposes. Google handles this data under its own privacy policy; see also how Google uses information from sites that use its services. If you click No thanks, or don't choose, Google Analytics isn't loaded at all. You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie settings link at the bottom of every page.
- Hosting. Like almost every website, the hosting company's web servers keep standard technical logs, which include IP addresses, for security and running the service. Those logs are kept by the host, not used by this site for tracking.
- Nothing else. There are no accounts and no adverts.
Changes to these terms
These terms may be updated as the site grows. The date at the top shows when they last changed.
Contact
Questions, corrections or concerns: contact@dnasignpost.com.