SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – By now, you probably know many consumer experts urge you to delete your 23andMe account.

The genetic testing company announced it’s filing for bankruptcy, which could put your information at risk. There’s no better time than the present to do some internet housecleaning when it comes to your digital footprint.

And before we get to that, for those of you trying to delete your 23andMe account, the company says it resolved the IT problems. An uptick in online traffic caused the website to crash this week. If you experienced that and were told to try again later, it should be working now. Here are the steps to delete your info: Log in to your account.

• Go to settings and scroll to “23andMe Data.”
• Click “View,” and scroll to “Delete Data.”
• Click “Permanently Delete Data.”
• Then you will need to confirm when 23andMe sends you an email. Once you confirm, the process cannot be reversed.

Back to your digital footprint. Now’s a good time to identify and delete unused accounts.

Find all your online accounts—emails, social media, and shopping websites—and delete them if you don’t use them.

“Anytime you hear of changes, a shutdown or a merger at a site or social media platform, especially if you’re not using it anymore, that’s a good reminder to go out and delete old accounts,” said Pamela Hernandez with the Better Business Bureau. “Delete apps off your phone that you’re no longer using. Make sure you don’t have things that are out there lingering that you’re not paying attention to that someone could take advantage of.”

• Next, adjust your privacy settings on social media. Who can see your posts and personal info?
• When was the last time you cleared your browser? Clear the history and cookies to prevent tracking.
• Review app permissions. Which ones keep tabs of your location? Are you okay with that?
• Stop using passwords with your dog’s name or your high school mascot.

“We want those long and strong passwords. Eight characters are not long enough anymore. You want 12. You want a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers. That could be really hard to remember for the average person. A password manager is a great tool that’s secure,” said Hernandez.

Finally, be mindful of what you share online. Be careful about the information you put out there and when. Like, don’t put your home at risk by posting vacation photos while on vacation.

Google yourself and see what others see. If you see something sensitive, ask to remove it. There’s a Google content removal form. You can do this yourself, or there are companies out there that will take care of your digital footprint. Before you pay for that service, read reviews and understand what they do with your information.

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