Managing Digital Legacies

by Andrew Kalat

Released June 2017

Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.

ISBN: 9781491957776

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Book description

Today most of us are part of a highly connected digital world. If you’re like many people, you have complicated digital entanglements, from physical devices with stored photos to online banking and social media accounts. The heavier the digital footprint, the more complicated it is to rein it all in. Yet, few people have considered how to untangle these digital legacies in the face of death. You probably have a will that outlines how you’d like to bestow your physical assets—these days, it’s wise to prepare a plan for your digital legacies as well.

This free guide provides resources and checklists to help you and your family prepare. Motivated by the death of a close friend and its stressful aftermath, author Andrew Kalat shares the lessons he learned and shows you, step-by-step, how to make the process as smooth as possible. Kalat is a 20-year veteran of the information security field.

The report is broken into two sections. The first section is a guide for putting your physical and digital house in order. The second section includes tips, ideas, and strategies for survivors dealing with the unexpected loss of someone who did not previously organize their digital accounts. Topics include:

Dealing with financial and household essentialsAdvice for making a willStoring all vital documents and information in one locationKey computer and online account passwordsAdvice for working with companies after a sudden deathManaging your home IT systemRecovering information from smartphonesHandling contacts and data on various online services