“Delete My DNA, Please”: A Senior’s Guide to Taking Your Genetic Data Offline (Before It’s Sold to the Highest Bidder)

Back in the good old days, if you wanted to know about your ancestry, you asked your Uncle Larry at Thanksgiving. Ideally, right after he’d had two glasses of wine and was feeling chatty.

Sure, some of the details were suspicious (like how your great-great-grandfather was supposedly a duke and a pirate). But it was free, and you didn’t have to mail a tube of spit to Silicon Valley to get juicy details about your family history.

Fast forward to now, where discovering your family roots involves swabbing your cheek, clicking a few buttons, and trusting a tech company to handle the most personal thing about you—your DNA.

What could possibly go wrong? 😨

Well… 23andMe, one of the biggest names in the DNA business, is currently in a swirl of trouble. The company recently filed for bankruptcy, lost nearly all of its board members (except the CEO), and is still reeling from a major data breach that exposed the personal information of about 5.5 million users.

Now, if this were a company that just tracked your shoe size or your favorite casserole recipe, it might not be such a big deal. But this is your genetic blueprint—the literal instruction manual for how your body works.

It’s not just sensitive. It’s the kind of information that can reveal everything from your health risks to surprise cousins you didn’t know existed (and maybe didn’t want to).

In this guide, we’ll walk you through:

• why all this matters,
• why you’re at risk even if you’re not a 23andMe customer,
• what you can do about it,
• and most importantly, how to take back control of your digital double helix.

DNA Danger: What’s the Big Deal with Keeping It Online?

At first glance, sending your DNA to a testing company might seem like harmless fun. You find out you’re 2% Swedish, 4% Neanderthal, and 100% ready to brag about your royal ancestry to anyone who’ll listen.

But these tests don’t just give you fun facts. They give companies access to the biological equivalent of your life’s blueprint.

Your DNA holds a goldmine of private information: your risk for diseases like Alzheimer’s, certain types of cancer, even whether you’re more likely to get addicted to caffeine or have trouble metabolizing medication.

It can also connect you to family members you didn’t know existed—which sounds heartwarming until a stranger emails you claiming to be your half-brother and wants to meet for coffee.

And here’s where it gets really sticky: once you hand over that data, the company you gave it to can often share it or sell it legally.

That’s because these companies aren’t considered “health providers,” so they’re not covered by HIPAA—the law that protects your medical records.

Translation? The same level of privacy you get at your doctor’s office does not apply here.

“But wait,” you say, “don’t they remove my name and keep everything anonymous?”

Yes, many companies claim to “de-identify” your data, meaning they strip out your name and birthday. But researchers have shown that with a little cross-referencing—like your ZIP code and some digital detective work—it’s often possible to re-identify someone.

In other words, even if they call you “Anonymous Subject 143,” someone could still figure out it’s you.

So, what could happen if your DNA info ends up in the wrong hands?

Well… quite a bit:

• Discrimination: While health insurance companies can’t legally use your genes against you, life insurance, disability, and long-term care insurance companies often aren’t bound by the same rules. Knowing you have a gene that makes a disease more likely? That could affect what you pay—or whether you even get covered.
• Targeted ads: Yes, it’s already creepy when your phone hears you mention knee pain and starts showing ads for braces. But imagine getting ads for Alzheimer’s treatments based on your genetic risk. Now that’s unsettling.
• Law enforcement access: If someone uploads their DNA to public genealogy sites like GEDmatch, the data can be used by law enforcement to track down suspects—or their relatives. This has helped solve cold cases, but it also means your genes could wind up in a police investigation… even if you’ve never jaywalked.
• Data breaches: And of course, there’s always the good old-fashioned hacker. Just last year, 23andMe had a major breach where personal information—including DNA-related details—was stolen from millions of users.

Bottom line: once your genetic data is out there, you can’t exactly change it like a passwordA password is a string of characters used to verify the identity of a user during the authentication... More. Your DNA is with you for life—so it’s worth thinking carefully about who else should have access to it.

Surprise: They Might Have Your DNA Even If You Never Used Them

Think you’re in the clear because you never sent a tube of spit to 23andMe? Think again.

Even if you didn’t sign up, a relative might have—and that can still put parts of your genetic information into the system.

How? Well, because these services look for shared pieces of DNA between people. If someone in your family submits a sample, the company can detect genetic markers that are also likely to exist in their close relatives. That includes parents, siblings, children, and even cousins.

So even though you never swabbed your cheek or clicked “I agree,” the system can say, “Hey, the person who sent this DNA has a close match out there.”

And while they won’t automatically know your name, if enough relatives test, your identity becomes easier to figure out. Especially when combined with family trees, birth years, or public records.

That’s a big deal, because it means:

• Your genetic traits could be inferred without your permission.
• You could be contacted by people you didn’t know you were related to.
• In rare cases, law enforcement or researchers could use that data trail to connect the dots back to you.

In fact, this is exactly how investigators have tracked down suspects in some cold cases. They do it by finding a distant relative in a public DNA database and working backward.

So even if you’ve kept your DNA to yourself, someone else in the family might have unknowingly brought your genes to the party.

What’s Happening at 23andMe—And Why It’s Extra Alarming

If you sent your DNA to 23andMe—or even thought about it—now’s a good time to pay attention.

The company recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So, at the moment, it’s trying to stay afloat while it figures out how to pay off its debts and possibly find a buyer.

At the same time, nearly the entire board of directors walked out, leaving only the CEO, Anne Wojcicki, still in charge. That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.

So, why does this matter to you?

Because your DNA is an asset, and if 23andMe gets sold, that asset could go with it.

A new buyer might not have the same strong privacy policies. In fact, they may not care much about your privacy at all—especially if they see your genetic data as a way to make money.

That’s what has experts raising red flags. As Jason Kelley from the Electronic Frontier Foundation put it:

“Customers should consider current threats to their privacy as well as threats that may exist in the future—some of which may be magnified if 23AndMe were sold to a new owner.”

And the timing couldn’t be worse. Just last year, 23andMe suffered a massive security breach where hackers accessed the personal data of 5.5 million users.

That data included things like names, birth years, locations, and even genetic ancestry information—the kind of stuff you really don’t want floating around the dark corners of the internetThe Internet is a vast network of computers and other electronic devices connected globally, allowin... More.

To make things more complicated, the company has also struck big research deals in the past. This included a $20 million partnership with a pharmaceutical company to license genetic data for drug development.

While 23andMe says it only uses data for research if customers opt in, many users agreed without fully realizing what they were signing up for. And once your genetic data has been used in a study, it can’t be pulled back—even if you delete your account later.

Now, the company has tried to reassure people. In a public statement, 23andMe said that the bankruptcy “does not change how we store, manage, or protect customer data.”

They also claim they won’t release anything to law enforcement unless legally required and that they’ve fought off such requests in the past.

So yes, the bankruptcy may just be “business restructuring” on paper—but for millions of users, it raises a much more personal question:

Who’s going to own your DNA next—and what will they do with it?

How to Delete Your DNA Data from 23andMe (Step-by-Step)

Because of all the risks and uncertainty here, many experts recommend deleting your data from 23andMe (and similar firms).

So if you’ve decided you don’t want 23andMe holding onto your genetic recipe anymore… Smart move!

Here’s an overview of how to delete your info from the platform:

🚨 Before You Begin: Want to Keep Your Data?

Before you pull the plug, you have the option to download"Download" is a term used to describe the process of copying files from the internet or another remo... More your raw DNA data to your computer.

This is helpful if you want to uploadUpload is the process of transferring data or files from a local device or computer to a remote serv... More it to a different service later or just have it for your personal records. (Tip: Save it on your computer, not the cloud"The cloud" refers to storage and services that are accessed over the internet instead of being stor... More, and definitely not on your nephew’s old laptop from 2008.)

🧽 Deleting Your Account and Data

1. Log into your 23andMe account.
2. Click on your name or profile iconAn icon is a small graphical symbol used to represent an object, action, or concept in a digital int... More and head to Settings.
3. ScrollScrolling is a fundamental action used to navigate through content on digital devices, such as compu... More down to the “23andMe Data” section and click View.
4. You may be asked to enter your date of birth for security.
5. If you want to download your data before deleting it, this is the place to do it.
6. When you’re ready, scroll down and click Permanently Delete Data.
7. Check your email for a message from 23andMe. You’ll need to click a confirmation linkA link, or hyperlink, is a tool used in electronic documents and websites to jump from one online lo... More to finish the deletion process.

Once you do that, your account will be closed, and your access to it will disappear faster than the last brownie at a church potluck.

🧪 What Happens to Your Spit?

When you signed up, you were asked if you wanted your saliva sample stored for future testing. If you said yes back then but are now having second thoughts—good news: when you delete your account, they should destroy your stored sample, too.

🔬 Revoke Research Consent (If You Gave It)

If you previously said “sure” to letting 23andMe use your genetic data for research, you can still withdraw your consent for any future studies. Here’s how:

• Go back into Settings.
• Look for the section called “Research and Product Consents.”
• Click Withdraw.

Important caveat: If your data was already used in past research or studies, it can’t be pulled back. That toothpaste has already left the tube—and maybe gone on to help develop a new cholesterol drug.

⚠️ One More Thing to Know

Even after you delete your account, some information stays behind. 23andMe keeps certain pieces—like your date of birth, sex, some of your genetic info, and the record of your deletion request—for legal and regulatory reasons.

So while deletion is a strong step, it’s not a total memory wipe.

How to Delete Your DNA Data from Ancestry

If you’ve ever used Ancestry’s DNA service to trace your roots—and maybe found out you’re not quite as Irish as you thought—you might be wondering how to get your genetic data off their servers.

Good news: Ancestry actually makes this process a bit easier than some of its competitors. Still, there are a few steps to keep in mind.

🧬 Delete Your DNA Test Results and Revoke Consent

This is the quickest way to stop Ancestry from using your DNA, especially for things like research or matching you with unknown relatives.

1. Sign in to your Ancestry account.
2. Click on your profile icon and go to DNA Settings.
3. Scroll until you find the option to Delete DNA Test Results and Revoke Consent.
4. Confirm you really want to do this. (This is not the time for second-guessing—this deletes your genetic data from their database.)

This step wipes out the results and pulls your data out of their DNA matching system.

🧹 Delete Your Entire Account (Optional but Most Thorough)

If you want to be absolutely sure that everything gets wiped, you can delete your whole Ancestry account. This does two important things:

• Deletes your DNA results and any other account information.
• Destroys your physical saliva sample (the one they’ve been keeping in a freezer somewhere, probably next to a Lean Cuisine). 😜

This is the “scorched earth” option—but if you’re done with Ancestry altogether, it’s the safest bet for privacy.

⚠️ Note: If you only delete your DNA results but not your full account, you’ll need to contact Ancestry’s Member Services to specifically request destruction of your physical sample.

🔬 Revoke Research Consent

If you previously said “yes” to Ancestry using your data for scientific research, you can still opt out of any future projects.

• Head back to DNA Settings.
• Look for a section called “Consents.”
• Click Withdraw to stop your DNA from being used in new research going forward.

Just like with 23andMe, this doesn’t remove your data from research studies that already used it, but it will stop it from being used in any new ones.

How to Delete Your DNA Data from MyHeritage

If you’ve used MyHeritage to explore your family tree and now want to prune your DNA out of it, here’s how! It takes a little clicking—and possibly a phone call—but it’s doable.

🧬 Delete Your Genetic Data

Start by removing your DNA data from their system.

• Log into your MyHeritage account.
• Go to Manage DNA Kits (you’ll find this in your account settings).
• Choose the kit you want to delete.
• Click Delete.

And poof! Your DNA data will be removed from their system.

If you’d rather not deal with menus or you run into trouble, you can also contact MyHeritage customer support by phone or emailEmail, or electronic mail, is a digital communication tool that allows users to send and receive mes... More and ask them to delete the data for you. (Sometimes, talking to a real human beats clicking through eight screens of settings.)

🧪 Destroy Your Sample

Unlike some companies that automatically destroy your sample when you delete your data, MyHeritage requires a little extra effort.

If you want your physical DNA sample destroyed, you’ll need to call or email customer service and request it specifically. Yes, it’s an extra step. But at least it’s one and done.

🔬 Revoke Consent for Research

If you agreed to let MyHeritage use your DNA for internal research (they say they don’t share with third parties), you can still change your mind.

• Go to Account Settings.
• Click on Privacy.
• Look for My DNA Preferences, and update your research consent there.

Once you’ve done all that, your data should be out of their active systems.

Should You Ever Share Your DNA?

After all this talk of breaches, bankruptcy, and distant cousins dragging your genes into crime investigations… you might be thinking, “Why would anyone ever share their DNA?”

Fair question. But it’s not all doom and digital gloom.

There are some genuinely good reasons people choose to use these services.

For many, it’s about discovering family connections they never knew existed—or confirming long-held suspicions about where their ancestors came from (sorry, Grandma, we’re not actually descended from Italian royalty).

For others, it’s about getting early warnings about potential health risks or contributing to scientific research that could help future generations.

But as we’ve seen, those benefits come with real trade-offs. Once your genetic data is out there, you can’t just change it like a password. It’s permanent.

And even if you trust the company today, tomorrow it might get sold to someone with… let’s just say looser morals and a suspicious interest in pharmaceutical marketing.

So if you do decide to share your DNA in the future, read the privacy policy carefully. Make sure you understand:

• What data the company collects
• Whether they store your physical sample
• Who they share your data with (or sell it to)
• How you can delete it later if you change your mind

And just as important—keep an eye on the news. If the company you trusted suddenly changes ownership or goes bankrupt, it might be time to take action.

In the end, sharing your DNA is a personal decision. Just make sure it’s an informed one. Because no one else should get to profit off your double helix without your say-so.

Want the Benefits Without the Risk? Consider Going Through Your Doctor Instead

If you’re still curious about your health or genetic risks—but feeling a little twitchy about mailing your DNA to a company that’s juggling bankruptcy and cyberattacks—you’re not out of options.

There’s a safer route: getting genetic testing through your doctor or health care provider.

It may not come with colorful pie charts or a list of surprise cousins, but medical-grade genetic testing is often more accurate, more useful for your health—and most importantly, protected under HIPAA, the same federal privacy law that covers your medical records.

Here’s how it compares:

Genetic Testing Through the Healthcare System (a.k.a. The HIPAA-Protected Route)

✅Pros:

• HIPAA protection: Your genetic information is kept private and secure, just like any other part of your medical file. It can’t be sold or used in marketing campaigns, and you get to decide who sees it.
• Real medical support: Instead of GooglingGoogling is the practice of conducting internet searches using the Google search engine. It involves... More scary-sounding gene names, you’ll get results explained by a doctor or genetic counselor—someone who can actually tell you what it means for your health.
• May be covered by insurance: If your doctor recommends it for a medical reason (like family history of cancer or heart disease), your health insurance might pick up the tab.
• No surprise relatives popping up: Some might consider this a downside, but hey, no unexpected messages from “Ron, your half-uncle in Fresno.”

🚫Cons:

• Not for ancestry fun: Medical testing focuses on health-related genes—not your Viking percentage or whether your great-great-grandmother was part French royalty.
• Not always covered for curiosity: If you’re just curious and there’s no medical reason for testing, insurance probably won’t pay for it—and private lab tests can be expensive.
• May still affect other types of insurance: Even though health insurers can’t discriminate based on your genes, life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies can, depending on where you live.

Bottom line? If your main interest is learning about potential health risks—and you want to keep your DNA far away from Silicon Valley’s next big dataBig Data refers to huge amounts of information that are too large or complicated for regular compute... More breach—talking to your doctor is a safer, smarter path.

Quick Resources

Taking control of your genetic information is crucial. Below are direct links and resources to help you delete your data from major DNA testing companies and understand your rights under various state laws.

California Attorney General’s 8-Step Guide to Deleting Your 23andMe Data: California DOJ

23andMe Data Deletion Instructions: 23andMe Customer Care

AncestryDNA Data Deletion Instructions: Ancestry Support

MyHeritage Data Deletion Instructions: MyHeritage

Note on State Laws: Genetic privacy laws vary by state. For instance, California’s Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) grants consumers the right to delete their genetic data and have their biological samples destroyed. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with your state’s specific protections regarding genetic information.

• Genetics Policy Hub: This platform offers detailed information on genetic privacy policies across various states, helping you understand the protections available in your jurisdiction. ​ – https://geneticspolicy.nccrcg.org/
• Triage Cancer’s Chart of State Genetic Information Laws: This chart includes state laws that provide protections related to genetic information in health, disability, life, and long-term care insurance policies. It’s a valuable resource to see how your state addresses genetic privacy. ​Triage Cancer® | Finances-Work-Insurance
• Future of Privacy Forum’s Analysis: An insightful analysis of recent genetic privacy legislation in states like Montana, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, highlighting the consumer rights established and the best practices incorporated. ​Future of Privacy Forum

Please note that genetic privacy laws are continually evolving. It’s advisable to consult these resources or legal professionals for the most current information relevant to your state.

By utilizing these resources, you can take proactive steps to manage and protect your genetic information.