Plan Your Digital Legacy with Password Managers: Unlocking Access to Your Entire Digital Life in Emergencies
Planning for one’s digital legacy is an often-neglected yet essential aspect of modern life. Much like drafting a will for physical assets, it ensures that your online accounts and services don’t lapse into data oblivion when you pass away, eventually being purged by data retention policies.
While some platforms acknowledge the importance of digital legacy, such as Apple and Facebook with their designated legacy contacts, many others do not. The American Bar Association is currently grappling with the legal complexities surrounding online account access after death.
The recognition of digital legacy remains sporadic, making it challenging to gain access to a deceased person’s online accounts. This often necessitates court orders or extensive legal documentation, adding unnecessary complications. However, password managers offer a solution by incorporating digital legacy features that can unlock your digital life in the event of an emergency.
Managing one’s digital legacy encompasses more than just online banking logins and digital assets ownership; even a seemingly straightforward online presence can quickly become a tangled web of data. Unpaid Netflix subscriptions might drain bank accounts, while photos uploaded to the cloud could be lost forever in data centers. Adding passkeys and social sign-on features further complicates matters.
Digital executors, akin to will executors for physical assets, exist to manage digital assets effectively. However, they offer little help in the immediate aftermath of someone’s death, as probate processes can take several months or even years.
Password managers like Bitwarden provide an interim solution by allowing you to transfer access to a trusted relative, spouse, or close friend, along with a summary of what should be done with your accounts. While the legality is somewhat ambiguous, with terms of service potentially complicating matters, it’s advisable to consult an attorney for long-term access arrangements.
NordPass advises that setting up Emergency Access in advance and clearly communicating its use cases to trusted contacts is the best course of action. Immediate access is crucial not only in case of death but also in instances of incapacitation. Password managers enable easy account transfer using emergency contact features, which can be particularly valuable during such situations.
There are numerous reputable password managers available, each with its unique approach to emergency access. Here are three recommendations for most users:
1. Proton (Pass Plus, Yearly)
2. Proton (Pass Family, Yearly)
Proton recently introduced an emergency access feature that extends beyond just the Pass service. Unlike other password managers, Proton Pass is part of a larger suite of services, which includes Proton’s popular VPN, encrypted crypto wallet, cloud storage, and calendar. Emergency access can be applied to all Proton apps, making it an attractive option for those with extensive data stored across different platforms.
