Have you been on facebook or LinkedIn and something pops up involving a friend or business associate that has passed away? The pain of loss wells up in your heart, eyes and gut. They’ve passed - why hasn’t their account been deleted or disabled?
It’s obvious that facebook or LinkedIn do not know that your friend has passed and his or her name is up on the screen as if still alive. It’s obvious that their immediate family does not have the log-in or may not even realize that their loved ones information/old posts etc. are still populating social media platforms. And what about other non social media logins that could give bad guys access to credits cards, bank accounts, etc.?
You need to have a system in place for both personal and business online account websites, usernames and passwords:
1) That effectively and safely manages and regularly updates passwords while you’re alive.
2) That, upon your death or incapacitation, effectively and safely gives family/partners access to accounts, websites, usernames and passwords (even though they’ve been changing regularly for security purposes).
I’m not going to give away all my secrets but will give you a few do’s and don’t’s. Give us a call for the secrets. 😉
Please do not have written list(s) of websites, usernames and passwords laying around. It’s very insecure, inaccurate since it relies on poor handwriting and is often outdated.
Password management program/software/platform: These are great as long as you regularly change the Access Password regularly (and make it a very tough password!) and have a way of safely storing that password such that a loved one can access it. But if your system fails, then someone can get access to it all.
Use Two-Factor Authentication: Whenever two-factor authentication is offered as an option, I encourage you to use it. So much more secure! As long as your family has access to your usernames, passwords and your phone, or texts on your laptop, then they can continue to get in.
Use automatically generated tough passwords: If you are using a password management platform and it automatically offers (and remembers) tough passwords - no one can guess those passwords!
Keep up with your equipment and software - keep it maintained - including keeping up with software updates. You don’t want to leave behind really old and un-updated systems to your loved ones.
Occasionally delete unused accounts, websites, usernames and passwords. You may be surprised how they accumulate over time. Don’t leave behind a bunch of dead accounts for your loved ones.
Clean up your email: Over time you agree to receive email that you’re not really reading. UNSUBSCRIBE early and often. If loved ones are cleaning up all your old accounts, they will be monitoring your email for serious important emails. If you get a ton of junk email, that makes their job painful!
Don’t forget equipment passwords. Mobile phones, laptops, desktops and “pads” also need secure passwords changed regularly, and a way of safely securing those passwords. For mobile phones with fingerprint capability, it may make sense to put a loved one’s fingerprint as one of the multiple allowed.
This is a well written article with a caveat on this topic from an estate planning/legal view, with The caveat: the article suggests to have a written list in a safety deposit box. That list will be worthless in a few months and I guarantee that no one is going to print up a new updated list every 6 months and go to the bank to swap it out!
This is not a simple topic - if you have a great idea - please contact us and I will update this post and give you credit if you want it.