What are your standard operating policies in case of ... death?

ppbitb

ppbitb

Hey there.

I manage my family data with a small number of in-home and cloud FreeBSD systems. Sentimental things like photos, practical things like tax returns. Things that I definitely want people to be able to use once I am unable to do it for them.
Everything is well backed up and documented, the master password is saved in a safe.
But, no one in my family has the technical skills to recover and access any of that data without my help. Practically, it will be probably as good as encrypted for whoever is left behind.
For those who have prepared for this situation, how are you approaching it?

Cheers!
 
It's one of the reasons I don't install FreeBSD for my relatives. I'm not talking about data in the cloud or encrypted systems, but simply that they are competent in any unforeseen event. There are other open systems that do better in this aspect, they are good enough for all levels.
My policy is not to install software that they are not able to maintain or too technical to ask for help.
For example, the mandatory English language is already a barrier on FreeBSD for non-speakers.
 
ppbitb said:
But, no one in my family has the technical skills to recover and access any of that data without my help. Practically, it will be probably as good as encrypted for whoever is left behind.
Click to expand...
If the data is of value you should convert the data to something they can handle. It can be a stack of CDs or USB drives with a file system they can handle with their skills and their equipment.
 
chrbr said:
If the data is of value you should convert the data to something they can handle. It can be a stack of CDs or USB drives with a file system they can handle with their skills and their equipment.
Click to expand...

More than correct and very common sense answer, it really has to be totally manageable the information you leave to your loved ones.
 
This is something I've begun to grapple with as well. I'm hoping one of my children, who is beginning to show interest and aptitude, will be able to at least move most of it to some "cloud" when I'm gone. I seriously doubt anyone in my family will have the interest or aptitude to maintain my highly idiosyncratic setup.

It's all gone if I keel over right now, though.
 
ppbitb said:
Hey there.

I manage my family data with a small number of in-home and cloud FreeBSD systems. Sentimental things like photos, practical things like tax returns. Things that I definitely want people to be able to use once I am unable to do it for them.
Everything is well backed up and documented, the master password is saved in a safe.
But, no one in my family has the technical skills to recover and access any of that data without my help. Practically, it will be probably as good as encrypted for whoever is left behind.
For those who have prepared for this situation, how are you approaching it?

Cheers!
Click to expand...
I think a step-by-step instruction manual for each task should suffice.
 
I keep my wife updated with an email that's a docx called Death_Envelope_date--just let's her know my account numbers that she doesn't have, how to pay the bills she doesn't pay, etc. So, in theory, if I drop dead, she'll know where my money is and which bills to pay for stuff she uses too, e.g., ConEd.
Sadly, both my brothers and parents have passed away, and I had the misfortune of seeing, say, with my sisters-in-law, how difficult it could be if they didn't have this information accessible.

I do keep thinking I should tell some BSD-literate friend how to get into my computer if I keel over, as I'm older than my late oldest brother was, but the document has everything important.
 
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