With genetic testing website 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is urging North Carolinians to delete their data.

Jackson said that DNA testing used to trace residents' ancestry could be bought by a malicious actor, putting the data at risk, according to a news release.

“Your genetic data is your most personal, confidential data, and you should be able to protect who has access to it. As 23andMe’s bankruptcy proceedings play out, it’s possible that North Carolinians’ private genetic and other health data could be sold to other companies. You have the power to delete your data now — please act quickly," Jackson said in the release.

Those who have used 23andMe are able to delete their data on its website. That will permanently delete genetic data from its database and prohibit its use in the future.

“My office is watching 23andMe closely to see how they navigate these next steps and what actions the court takes to protect North Carolinians’ data. We’re going to do everything in our power to protect people’s private information,” Jackson said.

According to the news release, here's how to delete your data on 23andMe:

• Log into your 23andMe account
• Follow instructions here if you want to destroy your test sample or revoke permission for your genetic data to be used for research 
• Under your account profile, click on “Settings”
• Scroll down to “23andMe data” and click on “View”
• Select “Delete data”
• Click “Permanently delete data”
• Follow instructions to confirm your request to delete your data

Once the request has been confirmed, 23andMe will begin the deletion process, and access to the account will be lost. 

The bankruptcy filing comes months after a massive breach exposed nearly seven million customers' personal information.