How Dead Man's Switches Work for File Delivery

The average person has over 100 online accounts, thousands of files across multiple cloud services, and important passwords stored... somewhere. What happens to all that when you're not around anymore? Spoiler: your family is locked out of everything.

The Problem: Digital Lockout

Real scenario: Someone dies unexpectedly. Their family needs to access bank accounts, close subscriptions, retrieve photos, or find important documents. But everything is password-protected, two-factor authenticated, and scattered across a dozen services.

Password managers help, but only if people can access them. Email accounts require verification codes sent to... the deceased person's phone. Cryptocurrency wallets are gone forever without the seed phrase. Photo libraries locked in iCloud. The list goes on.

What Actually Needs to Be Accessible?

Not abstract "digital assets" - here's what people actually need:

• Passwords and recovery codes: For banks, investments, cryptocurrency, email
• Important documents: Insurance policies, tax returns, property deeds, medical records
• Photos and videos: Family memories locked in cloud storage
• Account closure info: Social media, subscriptions, services that keep billing
• Business access: Domains, websites, GitHub repos, hosting credentials
• Cryptocurrency: Wallet seed phrases, private keys, exchange access

Why Most Solutions Don't Work

Telling someone your passwords: They change. Services add 2FA. You forget to update the list. Plus, you're giving someone access to everything right now, not just when needed.

Password manager "emergency access": Good idea, but requires the person to know about it and actively request access. What if they don't know it exists? What if you can deny the request... but you can't because you're dead?

Leaving it in your will: Goes through probate. Becomes public record. Passwords are visible to anyone who reads court documents. Also, wills take months to process.

How Automated Delivery Actually Works

The technical solution is called a "dead man's switch" - a system that delivers information automatically when you stop proving you're alive. Here's how it works:

1. Regular check-ins: You get periodic reminders to confirm you're still active (daily, weekly, monthly - your choice)
2. Escalation: Miss too many check-ins? The system alerts trusted contacts to verify your status
3. Verification: Multiple people must confirm before anything is released (prevents false triggers)
4. Automatic delivery: Once verified, encrypted files are automatically delivered to designated people

What You Can Do Right Now

Practical steps to make this less of a disaster for your family:

1. Make a list: Write down your critical accounts and where the important files are. Don't worry about being comprehensive - start with the top 10 most important things.
2. Pick your people: Who would you trust to receive this information? Choose 2-3 people who are tech-savvy enough to handle it.
3. Decide what goes to who: Maybe your spouse gets everything. Maybe your kids get photos but not financial details. Maybe your business partner gets domain access. It's your call.
4. Store it securely: Use a password manager, encrypted vault, or dead man's switch system. The key is that it's encrypted but will reach the right people automatically.
5. Set up check-ins: Whether it's a manual system or automated, create a way for people to know you're still around. Weekly email? Monthly confirmation? Your choice.
6. Update when things change: New account? Update the list. Changed a password? Update it. Quarterly review is reasonable.

What to Look for in a Solution

If you're using an automated system (like Inheritfy), here's what actually matters:

• Strong encryption: AES-256 is the standard. Anything less is questionable.
• Client-side encryption option: If you want true privacy, the service shouldn't be able to decrypt your data
• Multiple verification requirement: One person shouldn't be able to trigger release alone - require consensus from multiple contacts
• Flexible check-in schedule: Daily is annoying. Monthly might be too infrequent. You should be able to choose
• Data export: You should be able to download everything and leave whenever you want

The Bottom Line

This isn't about "protecting your legacy" or "estate planning." It's about making sure the people you care about can access the files and accounts they need when you can't give them access yourself.

Automated file delivery systems solve this problem. Set it up once, keep it updated, and it works automatically when needed. No lawyers, no probate, no family members trying to guess your passwords.