We all store a large part of our lives online, but what if something happens to you?
I don’t want my family to go through the extra distress of losing access to treasured family photos, important financial accounts or even home comforts like Disney+.
This may seem a bit gloomy, but there’s a bright side. Most of these tips will also be useful if you can’t get to your key websites while you’re still around.
Here are some simple bits of advice to prepare for the worst.
Your email is the most important digital account to protect, equal to your banking records. It’s where password resets get sent, giving you access to a lot of other digital accounts.
Google and Apple provide a service to ensure your loved ones get access when you can’t. For example Google has an inactive account manager service. If you haven’t used your email for at least 3 months, it will give access to your account to anyone you want.
Set up your service:
Unfortunately other major providers like Microsoft for Outlook and Hotmail do not provide the option. To get around this problem you can store your email logins in a password manager. Or even go old school and write your password down.
Password manager
Most major password managers offer an emergency access contact feature. Here are the links to set up emergency access for the most popular password managers:
1Password doesn’t provide this service. Instead, it allows you to print an emergency 1Password kit that includes your account details.
If you’re using Google’s or Apple’s password managers, the process to set up an emergency access contact is identical to that used for email accounts.
Due to the lack of an emergency access option, I would avoid using the password managers in Microsoft Edge and Firefox.
2FA (two factor authentication)
When two-factor authentication (2FA) is set up, simply having the password is not enough to access someone’s account. This security measure requires a 6-digit code, sent via text message or generated by an authenticator app, in addition to the password.
The easiest method to ensure access to your accounts is to inform a loved one of your mobile device’s PIN, or alternatively, set them up with biometric access like a fingerprint.
Social media
By using a password manager and establishing emergency access, you can ensure your loved ones can get access to your social media. It’s essential to clearly communicate what you want to happen to your social accounts.
Certain social media platforms allow the selection of a legacy contact to manage your account after you’ve died. You can choose to either delete your account or have it ‘memorialised’, which adds ‘remembering’ beside your name. However, this does not provide full account access.
The following sites allow you to ‘memorialised’ a social media account:
Write it down
You could write down your passwords and keep them in a secure place, like a fireproof safe or with family in another house. It’s safe to write down passwords as long as they’re stored securely and not carried around. The main downside is remembering to add or update the passwords when they change.
Choose a digital executor
To make this official, it’s best to have a will and choose an executor, or you can opt for a digital executor. Pick a trusted friend or family member to handle your digital estate, including NFTs and digital currencies like Bitcoin. Remember to tell them and your family about your preferences, like what should be deleted, what should be preserved and what has value.
Final thoughts
While there’s no simple solution for sharing your digital legacy, choosing a password manager with legacy access is a significant first step. Or just write them down and store them somewhere safe. Make sure your family knows how to gain access, either by appointing a digital executor or clearly stating it in your will.
Revisiting and updating your plan is essential to keep it in line with changes in your digital life. This planning can bring peace of mind and make a challenging time easier for your loved ones.
Keep in mind that many sites delete data after two years of inactivity. Transferring access after you’re gone is key to ensuring valuable items, like cherished family photos, are not lost forever.
