Your are going to die

[Rik]

Seriously.

I know we all like to ignore the prospect - the younger you are, the more immortal you probably feel. Many people put off making a will because they feel that it's "tempting fate". Me, I prefer to look upon the exercise as one of preventing the tax man getting his hands on my money, at least as far as I can help it. However, even those of us who have made wills may not have thought about their "electronic estate".

By now, you're probably wondering what I'm talking about. Well, I was considering what happens when I die. I suspect that most of us here are the "techie" half of the relationship, and look after all things computing. That's certainly true for us, so what would happen if I died suddenly? Could Sue take over my IDNet account and keep everything running?

I'm pleased to tell you that this particular problem has an easy solution. All IDNet need is a copy of the death certificate, and they can transfer the account and, perhaps more importantly, release a list of the passwords used for login and email. IDNet may be the exception, though. If you use a service like GMail, your partner will have to jump through several hoops to get at the information to recover your mail.

So, along with making a will and taking out life insurance, perhaps we all need to take care of our electronic affairs?

I recommend that you look at one of the many utilities on the market that will store passwords and other data in a strongly encrypted database. Then, set that up and record every bank account, mobile phone contract, utility contract etc. Include contract numbers, account numbers and also contact phone numbers. In there, have your IDNet account details, including all the email addresses and passwords, together with any other online information, eg GMail, banking logons etc. Once you have completed the database, make a note to update it regularly, use a strong password to protect it and then create at least two copies on external devices, for example burn a CD and also store it on a flash drive. Include a copy of the software you have used to create the database.

Make sure your partner/executor knows where these copies are kept, and also knows that one password.

You may wonder why I am recommending external storage devices. Well, the answer is simple - what if your computer dies with you, or your partner/executor doesn't know the password to your computer? If you have both the data and the software available on external devices, the information can be retrieved by anyone with a passing knowledge of computers (put a text file on there with instructions for installing the software).

With a little planning, you can save your loved ones a lot of hassle at a time when they are not best able to handle it.

[D-Dan]

Hmmph - when I die I don't want no-one finding nothing LOL

(Oh, and yes - I'm aware that the double negative destroys the meaning - but I'm having a mid life crisis and trying to sound hip whilst considering my own mortality)

[Rik]

I'm slightly too late for mid-life.

[dennyjim]

I finaly get my account up and running with IDNet and the first post I read is "You are going to die!!!"
I thought this was going to be the start of a happy life for me Rik?

[Rik]

LOL!

Welcome aboard, I trust everything went smoothly?

Sorry about the dramatic (but truthful) subject line. I just wanted to get people thinking about their online affairs - it's not part of the traditional preparations that we make.

[Inactive]

I finaly get my account up and running with IDNet and the first post I read is "You are going to die!!!"
I thought this was going to be the start of a happy life for me Rik?

Indeed, cheerful soul aint he.. 

A warm welcome to you dennyjim.

[Rik]

[Tanzanite]

I don't want anyone finding out about my online affairs lol 

[Rik]

It wasn't exactly those kind of affairs I had in mind, Eve! 

[Tanzanite]

I know  Just couldn't resist lol

[Rik]

That's how affairs get started, of course. 

[Lance]

I don't want anyone finding out about my online affairs lol 

Don't worry Eve, I'll keep what is going on between us quiet.

Whoops!

[Rik]

Now that explains a lot...     

[Tanzanite]

Lance! How could you!

lmao

[Tanzanite]

Now that explains a lot...     

Explains what I must have missed something

[Rik]

It explains everything, Eve and the answer is 42.

[Tanzanite]

Err...ok then

[D-Dan]

Actually, it's recently been discovered that a Linux system was used to calculate 42. Whilst all scientists agree that the answer is an integer, it's generally accepted that the true answer is as provided by Windows calulator. ie. 41.9999999999999999999999

It explains everything, Eve and the answer is 42.