Ask Slashdot: What's the Best Way To Preserve a "Digital Inheritance"? 191
First time accepted submitter ron-l-j writes "The last few months a digital inheritance idea has been floating around in my head, and I am sure the thought has crossed your mind as well. With Google talking about the inactive account program it made me wonder, how do I make sure my children get my iTunes, and amazon movies? I have plenty of mp4 movies on my server that will just set itself to admin with no password after I do not log in within a 6 month time frame. But what about the huge amount spent on digital content every year? What's the best way to make sure your "digital inheritance" gets passed down?"
Re:license not goods (Score:5, Informative)
I buy all my stuff on physical CDs and DVDs/Blu-Ray discs and then rip it (in the case of my music) for a few reasons, but this is a big one.
If ever I want to give away the media, I can - whether I'm alive or dead. No confusion, no complication.
Re:Children don't like their parents music (Score:4, Informative)
Well for my generation my parent's music collection is vinyl. It has some value beyond musical.
I'd check out the prices of vinyl on eBay before making that judgement...
Warning: You may be disappointed.
Re:Make a list (Score:4, Informative)
I took a somewhat different approach. I keep all my passwords in an encrypted database (I like Password Gorilla [github.com]). I wrote the password to this database, and the login password to my home PC, on a slip of paper and put it in a safe deposit box at my bank.
The safe deposit box uses two-factor authentication: you have to possess the key, and you need a photo ID identifying you as an authorized user of the box.
I prefer this approach because it is not reliant on human memory. I am not carrying a list of passwords around with me to be found by a stranger if I ever lose my keychain. It is also robust in the event I forget my "master" password, which could happen if I were disabled and went without using it for a few months. I can change who has access to the passwords through my will: currently my wife has access, but it could just as easily be the executor of my estate.
Re:You don't own (Score:5, Informative)