Do You Have an Emergency Digital Access Plan?

It is likely that you have a secure will, that your family knows your wishes and that you are comfortable with who will be handling your decisions in case of sudden disability or…the very long vacation, shall we say?

There is another area that few people have put in order, but one that has a huge impact on how your people can step in to help – your digital assets.

I am often brought in for tech assistance after a spouse becomes disabled or has passed. Most people would be surprised at how difficult it is to do even the simplest things without full admin permissions – even in a community property state. Something as simple as changing the auto-payment option of a credit card can be a situation that requires procuring and faxing a doctor’s evaluation – seriously!

Even people who think that they have a small digital footprint are astonished at the actual number of online accounts they have accumulated; accounts that will need to be managed quickly and safely at some point by someone else.

You are likely part of the first generation to go from checkbooks to banking apps, from paper photos to phone photos.

Think of the number of old laptops and cameras, flash drives and thumb drives in closets and drawers, all with photos and documents. In years past, there were photo albums and journals; now there are electronic records susceptible to irretrievable breakdown. Additionally, some people have very personal content around. Without planning, that is going to roll out in front of the grandchild or neighbor brought in to “deal with the computers”.

Putting together a good plan asks the same time and thought as dealing with your physical assets but is quite easy to maintain when complete. The following is a very brief overview to get you started in the right direction.

Create your Plan in Three Clear (but Demanding) Steps: Gather, Secure, Notify

Gather Passwords and Usernames AND Security Questions

Health: insurance, pharmacy, etc.

Utilities: internet, phone, etc.

Financial and Legal: banking, insurance, housing payments, etc.

Entertainment and Social Media: newspaper subscription, season tickets, etc.

Gather Photos and Documents

Physical Devices: thumb drives, CDs, camera chips… (These break and get lost, copy items off!)

Online: SmugMug, photos in text threads, document folders…

Secure

Take it from a technician who deals with password issues every day, figuring out a password storage system now that works for you will save you and family time and aggravation.

In order of complexity:

ONLY if you are comfortable with learning and maintaining new software, a Password Vault is excellent. There are many brands but one key feature to look for is the ability for an authorized external person to access at a time of your choosing.

A pretty easy and almost unnoticeable method for most people is having your browser (Safari, Chrome, etc) or computer remember your passwords. You’ll want to be sure that your computer is secure, don’t leave your computer with passwords unlocked outside of the house!

For some people, paper is the only option. Using an address book with alphabetical tabs is helpful. Be sure to clearly cross out old passwords and write the dates next to new ones, right away when you change a password – sticky notes will get lost!

Data from physical devices like flash drives can be removed or copied from the device and secured both locally and in a cloud account that you already use (OneDrive, Dropbox, etc). If your local machine is broken or stolen, your photos are safe in a Cloud account.

Notify

Be sure that your designated agents know EXACTLY how to access your information and consider leaving a copy of those instructions with your will.

The Best Part is How it Feels Afterwards!

The biggest outcome is one you may never see - the impact on someone who will be dealing with this in a time of emotional stress, perhaps from a distant location. The burden of putting right a disordered digital estate is more taxing than digging through a stuffed garage and has greater financial implications. Give your decedents a head start by getting things in order.

Do you have questions about your phone, computer, online accounts or other tech issues you’d like to see answered in future editions of Northwest Prime Time? Email Bridget at QandA@GentleTechhelp.com. Bridget Agabra, of Issaquah-based GentleTechHelp.com, provides trusted, personal technology service and training for seniors, and the tech-challenged. In addition to her email (QandA@GentleTechhelp.com) Bridget can also be reached by phone: 425-246-1192.