Guys,
write your passwords on paper, and deposit that at some safe location, let only trusted ones know where to find it.
In the last half year three people died in my social sorroundings. We already are in an age where people have all their stuff on computers. It's comfortably to handle: everything electronic, no much paper anymore, password managers etc. - I don't need to list you the details. I don't need to tell you everbody's computer is very personal. And that's the point exactly.
When a person dies, everything is on her/his computer. I'm not talking pictures, movies, love letters, porn, ...stuff. I'm talking access.
Access to banking accounts is something can be handled with the bank. Not easily, but in most cases doable. But there is so much more, you don't even think of yourself what you all have: homepages, servers, online accounts to forums, social media (Xing, LinkedIn, Facebook, Discord etc. etc. whatever), ... and much more your partner or who ever is in charge to clean up after you, don't even know about. Especially email accounts. Those not only carry almost all correspondence, but there are traps: Like only the person having access to an according email account can do certain things, especially with all those online only services (even banks!) Many of those, e.g. like this forums here, doesn't care when an user does not login anymore; if it will be even recognized at all. But there are others, especially when contracts and money is involved, you simply cannot ignore it, and wait until it stops by it's own. There are many not accepting anybody else but you to close an account. And there are not a few ones either not willing to accept or incapable to grasp you simply cannot do anything anymore when you are dead.
Some of you may say:"Just write the according company/admin an email, that this person is deceased. End of story!" No! Wrong! That's the beginning. Of not just one but many stories. Long stories. And in some cases a neverending story.
Nobody but the deceased one is capable to do any changes about the account. Not only but especially when it comes to money then anybody will be in charge to pay. And I knew of some cases this might only be stopped by bombing their HQ. Even if they were told several times by email, telephone, even received an authenticated copy of the official death certificate by registered mail - an official paper document telling that this person is actually really dead, they refuse to understand that this person is simply incapable to do anything anymore.
I've seen many strange letters and disturbing emails in the last half year still keep coming like "Dear ..., we've tried to contact you several times, but you did not answer..." - only funny when you are not involved.
For the heirs that is really a big f#c4. You not only have to deal with all officials, municipals, departments, offices, insurances, social agencies, banks, organizations, telephone companies, services, internet providers, social sorroundings, admissions,... while mourning. And you not only also have to deal with all of that without having any access to it. You need to get access to all of that first. And in not a few cases it's very complicated and takes a lot of effort to get any, if you don't already have it. And for some online only services, you have no chance at all to get any access, if don't have the access to an according email account. Instead you are running lots of those infinite loops you know from customer "service": "Consult our FAQs first!" "I did. But my request ain't covered there. So I contacted help desk." "Here you are wrong." "Okay, but who I need to contact then?" No answer. "HELLO!?! Who I need to contact?" "Consult our FAQs first!"...
In all of those cases I've seen in the last half year, the computer's could be "hacked" easily with a live system: Windows or Apple with the storage drive not encrypted. But besides not everybody heritages a computer is capable to do this, this did not solve everything. And many of you encrypt their drives.
Anyway:
Write down at least you master or root password(s) needed to get access to all others somewhere (not electronic, 'cause then you need a password to get the password) and depose it in a safe place only your trusted one(s) knows where to find it.
Or make it part of your last will deposited at a notary. There are several ways to write down a password and depose it safely, so only the ones needed to ḱnow it can have access to it.
The point is:
You'll help your beloved ones a lot, if they can get access to your machines which contain all further accesses, when you are dead.
Things shall not be found can be placed into an encrypted extra place of its own you don't give the password for.
But keep in mind there are more things as you can currently think of your beloved ones better know, when you deceased.
write your passwords on paper, and deposit that at some safe location, let only trusted ones know where to find it.
In the last half year three people died in my social sorroundings. We already are in an age where people have all their stuff on computers. It's comfortably to handle: everything electronic, no much paper anymore, password managers etc. - I don't need to list you the details. I don't need to tell you everbody's computer is very personal. And that's the point exactly.
When a person dies, everything is on her/his computer. I'm not talking pictures, movies, love letters, porn, ...stuff. I'm talking access.
Access to banking accounts is something can be handled with the bank. Not easily, but in most cases doable. But there is so much more, you don't even think of yourself what you all have: homepages, servers, online accounts to forums, social media (Xing, LinkedIn, Facebook, Discord etc. etc. whatever), ... and much more your partner or who ever is in charge to clean up after you, don't even know about. Especially email accounts. Those not only carry almost all correspondence, but there are traps: Like only the person having access to an according email account can do certain things, especially with all those online only services (even banks!) Many of those, e.g. like this forums here, doesn't care when an user does not login anymore; if it will be even recognized at all. But there are others, especially when contracts and money is involved, you simply cannot ignore it, and wait until it stops by it's own. There are many not accepting anybody else but you to close an account. And there are not a few ones either not willing to accept or incapable to grasp you simply cannot do anything anymore when you are dead.
Some of you may say:"Just write the according company/admin an email, that this person is deceased. End of story!" No! Wrong! That's the beginning. Of not just one but many stories. Long stories. And in some cases a neverending story.
Nobody but the deceased one is capable to do any changes about the account. Not only but especially when it comes to money then anybody will be in charge to pay. And I knew of some cases this might only be stopped by bombing their HQ. Even if they were told several times by email, telephone, even received an authenticated copy of the official death certificate by registered mail - an official paper document telling that this person is actually really dead, they refuse to understand that this person is simply incapable to do anything anymore.
I've seen many strange letters and disturbing emails in the last half year still keep coming like "Dear ..., we've tried to contact you several times, but you did not answer..." - only funny when you are not involved.
For the heirs that is really a big f#c4. You not only have to deal with all officials, municipals, departments, offices, insurances, social agencies, banks, organizations, telephone companies, services, internet providers, social sorroundings, admissions,... while mourning. And you not only also have to deal with all of that without having any access to it. You need to get access to all of that first. And in not a few cases it's very complicated and takes a lot of effort to get any, if you don't already have it. And for some online only services, you have no chance at all to get any access, if don't have the access to an according email account. Instead you are running lots of those infinite loops you know from customer "service": "Consult our FAQs first!" "I did. But my request ain't covered there. So I contacted help desk." "Here you are wrong." "Okay, but who I need to contact then?" No answer. "HELLO!?! Who I need to contact?" "Consult our FAQs first!"...
In all of those cases I've seen in the last half year, the computer's could be "hacked" easily with a live system: Windows or Apple with the storage drive not encrypted. But besides not everybody heritages a computer is capable to do this, this did not solve everything. And many of you encrypt their drives.
Anyway:
Write down at least you master or root password(s) needed to get access to all others somewhere (not electronic, 'cause then you need a password to get the password) and depose it in a safe place only your trusted one(s) knows where to find it.
Or make it part of your last will deposited at a notary. There are several ways to write down a password and depose it safely, so only the ones needed to ḱnow it can have access to it.
The point is:
You'll help your beloved ones a lot, if they can get access to your machines which contain all further accesses, when you are dead.
Things shall not be found can be placed into an encrypted extra place of its own you don't give the password for.
But keep in mind there are more things as you can currently think of your beloved ones better know, when you deceased.
