Legacy Locker Hands Over The Keys To Your Online Life When You Die

@johnsmith1234: And if you update them every month?

You should really let your porn buddy take care of this. After all, he needs to delete those bookmarks, unsubscribe from those e-mails, etc.

:)

Deprong Mori

Put the passwords in a letter in your safety deposit box. Unless you trust storing all your passwords on a third party site?

johnsmith1234

does any of this actually matter when you are dead?

Me, I would make a ridiculously long password, and attach it to my LastPass/Text File/etc... and include that in my Will/keep it someplace safe. Let my family members decrypt the file which I can update as often as I want, and it remains in my control.

I was thinking similar to the above, but use the free service to issue only one password, a long complex password to a TrueCrypt encrypted file. I can then update that file whenever I need to and store it someplace my loved ones can find it. Heck, I can even email it to them periodically and just have them archive it to GMail. That way LegacyLocker doesn't have any information to access any of my accounts, and the various details will remain locked up until the (presumable) Dead Man's Switch of Legacy Locker fires off the code.

--Jason

Jason

@Oligarch_GitEmSteveDave: You're saying you wouldn't have to login to this website and update them there too? I'd rather just change the letter whenever I change a password.
Personally, I use a simple .html file on my computer (backed-up of course) with this kind of information in it, along with a good farewell.

@Oligarch_GitEmSteveDave: You just store a password that unlocks your KeePass database, and update the said database. You just have to change the database password less often. If the password is strong (long, non-guessable !) enough, it shouldn't be a problem.

Don't forget to send a copy of your database and your good.

File on your computer.
Encrypted with a password you will not change.
Put the password in a safe deposit box with your important papers.
All you need to do is maintain the encrypted file.

How does this service determine whether you are dead or not? Death switch worries me because its preferred solution to this idea is "we send you emails every three months and if you reply we realize that you're not dead." Of course if I switch email accounts in two years and forget that this is going on, one day three months later suddenly all of my passwords get mailed out to my girlfriend and my mother without any notification to me. Not to mention the fact that to be even remotely useful you'd have to remember to update it every time you change your password (which you should be doing often enough that this is a huge pain in the ass.)

I agree with other comments. Not that I've done this, but someday I intend to write down the password to my 1password file, then store that in a lockbox.

BTW, nice to see the morbid Deathhacker tag has been revitalized in 2009.

I'm not planning to die...

David Gilling

The first thing I thought of was that Keepass would be ideal for this sort of thing. Just give the password to a trusted friend/family member.

All your usernames and passwords all in one place. Easy to update. Even has space for notes for useful info like security question answers and customer service numbers to make it easier for your loved ones.

Just be sure to schedule those backups.

Thank LH! This is something I had never thought of.

OSUpwnsUM

@BnWRainbow: I was referring to the letter in the safe deposit box. You'd have to go down to the bank every month to update it. I'm cool with online as it's easier.

@ub: "Someone (perhaps a spouse or your estate planner) will need to submit your name to our website as being deceased. We use a thorough verification process to confirm a user's passing. Additionally, with a paid account, users receive two cards directing any medical personnel or family members that Legacy Locker is protecting your digital assets. We recommend keeping one card in your wallet, and leaving one with your will/trust documents."

So... maybe just a tad more convenient than running down to the safe deposit box every time you change a password?

@chiieddy: But then one night, you stand up from your computer, clutch at your chest, spin around dramatically and crash down onto your desk, crushing your computer and frying the hard drive. Now what! :-)

Just kidding, put the file on a thumb drive in the safe deposit box too.

Jason

Hooray!! More recessionware!

ArdisAtropos

Keepass with a letter in a safe deposit box with your master password (along with any other valuables). You'll probably need one anyway if you're making a "if-I-die-tomorrow" plan.

Kashell

@irish_stickman: and a resounding "no" erupted from the masses.

I've been keeping password lists in my fireproof safe since I bought it about 5 years ago. Having an encrypted password file with one master password appeals to my inner geek, but I consider myself lucky that I've convinced several family members to "Click on the Orange Fox, instead of the Blue E". I have still others who insist on using AOL, despite having a broadband connection. Decryption of a file would be way beyond them.

Also be sure to check out the free and unlimited encrypted equivalent coming soon at http://VitalLock.com

GiorgettaPerseus

How does it know you're dead?
And can you 'trigger' the process without... death?

nbgangsta

@Oligarch_GitEmSteveDave: Use a public/private encryption scheme.

Keep the private key in the Safety deposit box, along with instructions on how to access the "encrypted file"

Encrypt a password list, or the master password for keypass or something on your computer using the public key.

Place this encrypted file wherever you please (on your computer, on a shared host, on a thumb drive kept in your sock drawer, etc.

Without the private key that's in the safety deposit box, you're safe.

GnuPG / GPG would offer a FOSS way of doing this. There's even a FireGPG firefox plugin
[gnupg.org]
[www.gpg4win.org]
[getfiregpg.org]

johnsmith1234

@johnsmith1234: You also need to include someone on your safety deposit "allow" list, or else they will have to wait until your estate is being settled to access this information.

I have a protected file on my computer in a directory named after my executor (who is a close relative); he's been advised to look for it on the occasion of, and given the password. It has bank accounts, passwords, etc. as well as funeral instructions, family recipes and such. I update it every year or so. (I'm neither old nor unhealthy, but it's unkind to your family and/or loved ones to leave these things hanging. Also, it's sort of fun to plan your own funeral if you don't expect to need one soon. Maybe even if you do.)

MollyNYC

@Jason: I run on a Mac and backup to an external drive every few hours, so I don't think about it. :)

@Deprong Mori: you must be a "coupling fan"?

iamellis

@Cordelya:
All my friends and family that knock on my door for IT support know not to click on the "Blue E". I'm proud to say I did my bit to promote openness. And I already have someone nominated to access my online life, as well as an updated will.

My girlfriend already has my passwords, just like she could open my regular mail, if she wanted to.

@automaton: Same.

ANOPRAX

And if they ever abuse the trust you have given them, you don't have to worry about suing them, because you're DEAD!

"Oh, you'll give me your passwords when you're dead, but I can't know them while you're alive? What are you hiding?"

Does Legacy Locker also give you complimentary booking on the Dr. Phil Show.

No need to tell me how he was never a real "doctor" or he doesn't know what he's talking about.

jupiterthunder

Any tips on where to get a safe deposit box? If I bank at a credit union which has no safe deposit boxes, what's my least expensive option for getting a safe deposit box at another bank?

Adam Howard

@irish_stickman: +1

@TheGuardian: The only password that would matter would be to your Paypal account.

1) Give the paypal password to your significant other.
2) Simplify your life by not worrying about updating some password database on a third party server every time you change a password.

I could care less about my Facebook account when I die.

Even better, do what I do: Develop a formula for creating unique, secure passwords for every login. Base the formula on specific users at specific domains. I have hundreds of unique passwords- all of them in my head. Once the formula is developed, all you need to do is educate your significant other on how to use it.

MERSC

@The Amazing Ant: and of course, have a java script in the html file that deletes those directories that you'd rather no one see....

ChibaCityCowboy

@nbgangsta: why, it's simple. just set up an account at legacy-un-locker.com and stash your log-in to legacy locker. Give the password to your attorney or a trusted friend who is ten years younger and in good health.

uh.. Wow.

Dilpickle1