Your Data and Cyber Business After You're Gone

Reader Mountain Splash writes "The New York Times has a decent thought-inspiring article questioning what happens to our stored data and who owns the rights to it after we die. I have to admit that, while this dilemma had already crossed my mind many months ago, I've been rather slow to do something about handling it. While considering the same, though, what I did do was start a very detailed list of my many various emailboxes, IM monikers, cyber buddies, and yes, passwords (complete with encrypted hints to be stored separately). I have also already approached my roomie and my sister about following up with that list for me as a last wish if and when the inevitable should occur. Just wondering if everyone else has done the same or similar... Anyone gone so far as to have already filed their information along with their will with their family lawyer?"

Comments

Gloomy

[not_a_product_id]

I have also already approached my roomie and my sister about following up with that list for me as a last wish Rather gloomy but it did get me thinking about all the friends I only communicate with via email. If I look the wrong way crossing the road I'll just vanish from their sight.

We need to learn to let go

[beeplet]

While terminally ill, Mr. Cochran, a programmer, left a full list of passwords for his work files with his employer, Mr. Purnell said. But he failed to do the same thing with the personal files, so they are now inaccessible.

Maybe he didn't want anyone reading his personal files? That seems like the most obvious explanation to me.

I think that as a culture, we need to learn how to let go of things. In the past, information was more ephemeral; books would decay or be lost over time. Just because we have the capacity virtually eternal data storage doesn't mean we should.

In a way, I think holding on to every minute detail of someone's life devalues the things of importance they left behind. Do you think they really want to be remembered by their tax returns? Would they have wanted their grandchildren to inherit their file of meeting notes? If someone wants to leave important digital information to posterity, they should put that intent in their will, and (*gasp*) maybe even make a hard copy of it.

Obviously if someone dies suddenly, that may not be an option. But my point is that we, the survivors, need to relearn how to distinguish between valuable data and stuff better left forgotten.

The reality is...

[eclectic_echidna]

The reality is...

Nobody cares about your data. They just want your money, which is easy enough to find.

After reading through GiBs of your old mail, they will see that you have a secret swiss bank account with some cash????

Yeah sure...

Don't overestimate your importance in this world.

--
ee

Thought about it years ago.

[wcrowe]

I thought about this years ago. I don't really have any important information to impart to my loved ones, but I'm sure it would be helpful for them if they were to know passwords to the home router/firewall, webspace, etc.

Directions to this information are in my safety deposit box at the bank, along with our wills, etc.

Some may laugh, but consider: Why leave hassles with your family (especially technically ignorant ones, like mine)? If they have easy access to these things then they can change or cancel services, modify settings, etc.