6 Life Hacks for Protecting Digital Assets in Your Estate Plan
Your digital estate is more valuable than you think.
When you think of a digital asset, you’re probably thinking of your bank accounts, credit cards, and other online accounts.
But the truth is, the digital property includes everything attached to your name online, and in this digital age protecting those assets is more important than ever. The good news is there are several simple ways you can secure your online presence and keep your assets safe.
Here’s your guide to protecting digital assets in your estate plan and how you can get help.
What Are Digital Assets and Why Should I Care?
Digital assets are everything we store online and access through our devices.
They include:
- Email accounts
- Social media profiles
- Blogs and websites we own
- Financial information (bank accounts, investments, etc.)
- Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
- Cryptocurrency
- Digital photos and videos
As the world goes more digital, there are endless things we can own online, and identity theft has become more of a real possibility. Gone are the days when hackers only care about your financial accounts and online banking.
Now, a digital asset doesn’t even have to be of monetary value to be stolen. Hackers can get into your social media account to mine your personal data and sell it online. But you have options.
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can protect your digital estate.
6 Life Hacks to Protect Your Digital Estate & Stay Secure Online in 2023
It’s easy to put off protecting your assets when you feel like there’s no immediate threat. It’s even easier when the assets you’re trying to protect are virtual, so you don’t even see them. But when it comes to your estate, proactive is better than reactive. Here are six ways to start protecting your digital estate today.
#1 Delete Online Accounts You Don’t Use
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to make sure you aren’t leaving any digital traces of yourself behind if you can avoid it. If you don’t need or want the account anymore, delete it!
Be aware that some online accounts make it unnecessarily difficult to do this. If this is the case, at least consider changing or erasing all of your personal information to limit its visibility on that website.
#2 Invest in a Password Manager
There’s a password for everything. From a private key to encrypt cryptocurrency to login to order pizza online, you’re probably swimming in them.
A password manager solves this problem by storing all your usernames and passwords in one place. Some can also help you generate strong passwords so that each password is different across all accounts, reducing the possibility of identity theft.
#3 Back Up Your Data
Back up your data regularly on your personal computers and cell phones. This is one of the most important steps, ensuring that you don’t lose everything to disaster or theft.
Consider using a cloud storage service, which automatically saves new files you create on its servers and syncs them across all your devices. Or, if you prefer to keep things in-house, invest in an external hard drive that automatically backups everything on its own schedule.
#4 Use a VPN
A virtual private network (VPN) is a service that encrypts your internet traffic, disguising your identity online. This provides an added layer of security when you’re using public Wifi by preventing anyone from snooping on your activity.
The truth is—if someone were to gain access to your computer or smartphone, they’d have access to all your personal information. A great VPN can help stop hackers in their tracks.
#5 Appoint a Digital Executor/Digital Fiduciary for Your Estate
Per the 2019 Digital Assets Act, a digital executor can access your digital assets after you die. This person will play a significant role in wrapping up your final affairs, including locating your online assets and financial documents and shutting down your social media accounts. It should be someone who knows their way around technology and someone you trust to wield such power over your estate.
#6 Hire an Estate Planning Attorney
What better way to protect your digital assets than to speak with someone who knows all about it? An estate planning lawyer can help you create an estate plan to protect both real and digital property and ensure everything is protected while you’re here and after you’re gone.
The best part? Getting the help you need is only one phone call away.
Create Your Digital Estate Plan Today. Call Meier Law Firm
Creating a digital estate plan for your online assets can be hard to wrap your mind around. After all, how do you plan for something that isn’t tangible?
With help, that’s how.
At Meier Law Firm, we provide digital estate planning for all your online accounts. An estate planning attorney can help you round up your digital assets, determine what goes where, and select one of your family members or friends to manage it all once you’re gone.
When it’s all said and done, we can also help you put together a plan for those tangible assets like your house, car, and valuable personal items.
Get started today—book your estate planning consultation now.