I long ago exceeded my capacity to remember passwords, especially for my institutional accounts which require password changes at regular intervals. As a result, I use a password manager to keep up with all my passwords. As it happens, I use 1Password, which syncs everywhere, generates and keeps track of preposterously complex passwords, and keeps other kinds of information, such as credit card numbers, passport information, and more secure yet available. It’s a neat thing.
But what if something happened to me, leaving me incapacitated or worse? How would my wife or son deal with my various accounts? Who, for the love of everything, would continue to complain via Twitter about Liverpool’s sloppy form?
Against exactly this eventuality, Charles Hamons has developed a fillable PDF form called “The 1Password Emergency Kit, Version 3.0.” (Via SimplicityBliss.) It’s a fillable PDF form, designed to be printed and kept in a secure place such as a safe deposit box, along with your will and any other such estate-related documents. It’s based on an idea by Mike Vardy, and makes it incredibly easy for your digital affairs to be settled.
(Of course, giving someone access to this really is giving them the keys to your kingdom, and any secrets that might be therein!)
Do you have a plan for securely winding down your online accounts when you’re not able? Let us know in comments!
Photo “Safe Deposit Boxes” by Flickr user Noah Jeppson / Creative Commons licensed BY-SA-2.0
