Lately I started including what happens to my data in case I die unexpectedly in my threat model. As of now I’d like for everything to stay private. All my accounts have a strong password that I store on a keepass datbase that I store only on encrypted devices which themselves are protected only by PIN or Password with no biometrics (I use the pin only on my phone which is set up to get wiped after 20 failed unlock attempts to mitigate bruteforce attacks). As for what I post online, I keep it to a minimum and nothing really personal, preferring only viewing content through clients with no account when possible. I know some services allow to set up what happens after a certain period of inactivity but I was wondering if you guys can suggest anything else. Maybe some program that wipes the computer’s drive after a period of inactivity? Some other tools or some tips I didn’t consider?
I don’t really care about what happens to my body or my stuff after I die. Growing up in a hoarding home, my goal is enjoy what I have now and minimize what others have to deal with when I’m gone.
If I go unexpectedly, the people in my life need easy access to my stuff to ensure they’re not fucked by rapacious corporations trying to profit off “sorry thesmokingman died someone didn’t cancel the electric so you owe a ton.” Any assets I have (after student loans, of course) should be easily accessible. The people close to me might want some token of me or some insight into what data I like to hoard. I’ve got a dead man’s switch with my password manager that goes to specific people. They can have it all.
If there’s no one in your life, by all means, nuke your shit. If there are people in your life, why do you care what happens to your things when you’re dead? You’re dead.
I assume most of that will be taken care of eventually. The only loan I have is for my car and either it’s gonna be paid off soon or I have insurance that will pay it for me be it the case I die next week. For the rest there is nothing really. I guess there is some way for my family to get into my bank account (after all even if I left my device unlocked it’s not like they could access the account easily). Other than that it’s mostly personal accounts and data. Maybe I’m missing something but I don’t really plan on taking other loans or whatever else that won’t be automatically be taken care off after sending some kind of notice about my death.
The biggest reason I set up a dead man’s switch was for incapacitation over death. I don’t live anywhere near my family (who I trust to manage my affairs; not the same for everyone) so when the ‘Rona hit I wanted to make sure my life wouldn’t end if I got hospitalized for months on end. I feel that there is value in considering that possibility especially if you’re already considering an unexpected death. What about your rent/mortgage, your electric bill, your subscriptions, the things that keep your life moving? Some you want paid, others you want canceled without screwing your credit score (if you live in the US). If I miss a rent payment, I get evicted in a month.
On the other hand, if you’re dead, why make it harder for the people that have to clean up for you (“taken care of eventually”)? My family knows how to delete my presence from everything once they have access to my stuff so I can’t exist as a digital zombie forever.