Digital death: your online legacy

• A. A physical print of your fingerprint stored on a device
• B. The trail of data you leave behind through your online activity ✓
• C. A backup copy of your files stored in the cloud
• D. The list of websites you have bookmarked in your browser

Why: A digital footprint is the trail of data created by your online activity, including posts, searches, messages, and interactions, which can persist long after you stop using a service.

• A. Data you deliberately publish, such as a social media post
• B. Data collected about you without your direct action, such as browsing cookies or location logs ✓
• C. Information you delete from your accounts
• D. Files you save but never open again

Why: Passive footprints are gathered automatically, for example through cookies, IP address logging, or app location tracking, rather than through content you actively choose to share.

• A. Platforms are legally required to keep them forever
• B. Accounts remain active unless someone reports the death or the platform is given instructions to close them ✓
• C. Deleted posts are automatically restored after a person passes away
• D. Accounts are transferred to the government upon death

Why: Most accounts stay online by default. Without a request from family, a legacy contact, or a memorialization or deletion instruction, the profile and its content may persist indefinitely.

• A. Changing your username on the platform
• B. Deleting the post and requesting removal from search engine caches and any sites that copied it ✓
• C. Archiving the post in a private folder
• D. Hiding the post from your followers while keeping it public

Why: Deleting the original is only the first step. Copies may exist in search caches, screenshots, archives, or third-party sites, so removal requests to those services are needed to limit persistence.

• A. A list of every password you have ever used
• B. Instructions for managing, memorializing, or closing your online accounts and naming someone to handle them ✓
• C. A copy of your browsing history for your heirs
• D. A public announcement of your accounts and passwords

Why: A digital legacy plan sets out what should happen to your accounts and data, and designates a trusted person to act on your behalf, while keeping sensitive credentials secure rather than broadcasting them.

• A. Immediately deleting all of the deceased's posts and photos
• B. Notifying the platform of the death and requesting account memorialization or closure ✓
• C. Logging into the account using the deceased's password without any further action
• D. Transferring ownership of the account to a new user through a public auction

Why: Most major platforms have processes for reporting a death. Families can request that an account be memorialized, which keeps the profile visible in a limited way, or request permanent deletion. Simply logging in with a password may violate platform terms and can cause problems.

• A. The account is permanently erased along with all of its content
• B. The account is frozen so no one can see it, including friends and family
• C. The profile remains online with the word 'Remembering' or similar, and content is typically kept but login is disabled ✓
• D. The account is automatically transferred to the user's closest relative with full access

Why: Memorialization preserves the profile as a tribute space, often labeled to indicate the person has died. Friends can still view and share memories, but no one can log in or post as the deceased, which protects the account from misuse.

• A. Platforms will only act on requests made by a court-appointed executor, regardless of other documents
• B. Some platforms let users pre-select a legacy contact or deletion preference that determines what happens to the account ✓
• C. Estate plans are required by law to list every password the person used
• D. Platforms never honor requests from family members under any circumstances

Why: Some platforms, such as Facebook and Google, offer settings where users designate a legacy contact or choose deletion after death. Checking for these settings first can clarify what the platform will allow and guide the family's next steps.

• A. A public profile with no personal information
• B. An account holding financial assets or payment balances ✓
• C. A casual forum login with a pseudonym
• D. A newsletter subscription with a free plan

Why: Accounts holding money, subscriptions, or digital financial assets typically require proof of death and legal authority, such as a death certificate or letters of administration, before any access or closure. This protects the estate and the platform.

• A. The account will automatically send the deceased's bank details to the family
• B. It may be used for identity theft, scams, or impersonation by others ✓
• C. The platform will charge the family a fee every day the account remains open
• D. Friends will be unable to find the deceased's old photos

Why: Inactive accounts of deceased users can be hijacked or used to run scams, such as messages asking friends for money. Reporting the death and securing or closing the account helps prevent this kind of impersonation.

• A. Delete all of your emails so no one can read them
• B. Review the provider's account inactivity or legacy settings and designate a trusted contact where available
• C. Share your password with everyone in your family
• D. Close your email account immediately without telling anyone

• A. To automatically post your messages on social media
• B. To let you choose a trusted person who can access your account or data if it remains inactive for a set period
• C. To increase the storage space of your account
• D. To send spam to your contacts after you die

• A. Cloud storage cannot hold personal files
• B. Terms of service often restrict account access to the owner, and family members may lack legal authority without proper planning
• C. Cloud files are automatically deleted within one hour of death
• D. Cloud providers always publish stored files publicly

• A. The colour of your computer case
• B. A secure list of account providers, usernames, and where access instructions are stored, kept separately from the accounts themselves
• C. Every password you have ever used, posted on a public website
• D. The number of unread emails in your inbox

• A. Plain text files cannot be opened by family members
• B. Unsecured password files can be exposed to hackers or misused, so a secure password manager or protected instructions are safer
• C. Computers automatically delete any document containing a password
• D. Password files increase the speed of your internet connection

• A. A paper calendar kept in a desk drawer
• B. A cryptocurrency wallet holding Bitcoin ✓
• C. A printed copy of a utility bill
• D. A handwritten letter stored in a filing cabinet

Why: A cryptocurrency wallet holds value and access credentials in digital form, so it is a digital asset that heirs or executors may need to locate and manage. The other options are physical items, not digital assets.

• A. Banks require a list before they will open any new account
• B. It helps your executor locate and settle accounts that might otherwise be forgotten ✓
• C. It automatically transfers account ownership after death
• D. It removes the need for a will

Why: Many online accounts, such as payment apps, brokerage accounts, or loyalty programs, can go unnoticed after death. A list helps an executor find and close or transfer them, and it does not replace legal documents like a will.

• A. Online banks never allow account access by anyone other than the owner
• B. Login credentials and two-factor authentication devices may be inaccessible to family members ✓
• C. Digital accounts are automatically deleted within 24 hours of death
• D. Only government agencies are permitted to view digital records

Why: Passwords may be unknown to others, and two-factor authentication often sends codes to the deceased person's phone, which can be locked or lost. These barriers make access difficult even when heirs have a legal right to the assets.

• A. Sharing all passwords publicly on social media
• B. Using a secure password manager and documenting how a trusted person can access it ✓
• C. Writing every password on a sticky note on your computer monitor
• D. Deleting all financial accounts before you die

Why: A password manager keeps credentials secure while still allowing you to designate a trusted person and leave clear instructions for access. Public sharing or unsecured notes create security risks, and deleting accounts would eliminate assets your heirs may be entitled to.

• A. The color scheme and layout of the website
• B. Whether the account can be memorialized, transferred, or closed upon death ✓
• C. The number of followers the account has
• D. The date the platform was founded

Why: Platforms have different policies for deceased users, such as memorializing an account, allowing a legacy contact, or requiring a formal request to close it. Knowing these policies helps you plan what should happen to each account.

• A. Deleting all of your social media accounts
• B. Creating a complete inventory of your online accounts, devices, and digital assets
• C. Transferring all of your digital photos to a stranger's cloud account
• D. Changing every password to the same phrase so your family can remember it

• A. A software program that automatically deletes inactive accounts
• B. A person named in your will or planning documents who is authorized to manage your digital assets after you die
• C. A government agency that takes control of all online accounts after death
• D. A cybersecurity expert who hacks into accounts to recover data for heirs

• A. Because password managers never allow access after a death
• B. Because without access to your password manager, your executor may be unable to reach many important accounts
• C. Because password managers automatically share passwords with all contacts
• D. Because password managers must be deleted before death to remain legal

• A. Account recovery mode
• B. Legacy contact or memorialization settings
• C. Auto-backup protocol
• D. Permanent archive lock

• A. Printed family photographs stored in albums
• B. Cryptocurrency, loyalty points, and subscription services that may have monetary or sentimental value
• C. Physical paper bank statements
• D. Hardcover books in a home library

• A. Deleting all of your social media accounts immediately
• B. Making an inventory of your online accounts, devices, and digital assets ✓
• C. Sharing your passwords with every friend on social media
• D. Waiting until a serious illness occurs before thinking about it

Why: You cannot plan for what you have not identified. Listing your accounts, devices, photos, and subscriptions gives you a clear picture of what exists and what needs decisions about its future.

• A. They gain full access to your private messages while you are alive
• B. They can manage your account or request memorialization after your death ✓
• C. They automatically receive your bank account login details
• D. They are responsible for paying all of your online debts

Why: A legacy contact is a person you designate to manage certain aspects of your account after death, such as posting a final message or memorializing the profile. Their access is usually limited, which protects your privacy.

• A. Plain text files cannot be opened by family members
• B. Anyone who gains access to the file, including hackers, could misuse your accounts ✓
• C. Computers automatically delete text files after a period of time
• D. It violates copyright law

Why: Unprotected password lists are a major security vulnerability. Secure options include a reputable password manager with an emergency access feature or a sealed written record kept in a safe place.

• A. Making all albums public so they can never be lost
• B. Reviewing privacy settings and sharing memories only with intended audiences ✓
• C. Tagging every family member in every photo regardless of their wishes
• D. Uploading images with location data attached for easy searching

Why: Controlling who can view your memories protects both your privacy and the privacy of the people in them. Reviewing settings regularly and removing location metadata reduces unwanted exposure.

• A. A software program that automatically deletes old accounts
• B. A trusted person who is authorized to handle your digital affairs after death ✓
• C. A government official who audits internet companies
• D. A type of virus that spreads through inactive accounts

Why: A digital executor is a trusted individual named in your will or planning documents to manage your digital accounts, assets, and communications according to your wishes, much as a traditional executor handles physical property.

• A. Deleting all old social media accounts immediately
• B. Taking an inventory of your digital accounts, devices, and assets ✓
• C. Posting your passwords publicly so family can find them
• D. Transferring all your money to a single online wallet

Why: You cannot plan for what you have not identified. An inventory of accounts, devices, and digital assets gives you a clear picture of what needs to be managed, preserved, or closed after your death.

• A. A lawyer who manages your estate's taxes
• B. A person you designate to manage or memorialize your account after you die ✓
• C. A bank employee who monitors suspicious transactions
• D. A software program that automatically deletes inactive accounts

Why: Legacy contacts are individuals you authorize in advance to handle certain aspects of your account after death, such as memorializing a profile or downloading shared content. This feature lets you control access rather than leaving it to chance or lengthy legal processes.

• A. Paper documents cannot store long passwords
• B. It creates a security risk if the document is accessed by unauthorized people ✓
• C. Family members are legally forbidden from knowing passwords
• D. Passwords expire after a set period and cannot be transferred

Why: A plain list of passwords is a valuable target for anyone who gains access to it, including hackers or the wrong relatives. Secure approaches include password managers with emergency access features, or sealed instructions stored with a trusted person or lawyer.

• A. Family photographs stored on a local hard drive
• B. Cryptocurrency held in a wallet whose recovery key is lost ✓
• C. A printed copy of a will
• D. A physical storage box of DVDs

Why: Cryptocurrency is controlled by private keys rather than a company or bank that can reset access. If no one has the recovery phrase or keys, the assets may be permanently inaccessible, which is why documenting access information securely is essential.

• A. Only the login details for your most-used email account
• B. A list of key accounts, locations of devices, wishes for each account, and instructions on who should access what ✓
• C. Your full browsing history so they can see your interests
• D. Copies of everyone else's private messages to you

Why: Effective digital legacy documentation explains what exists, where it is, and what you want done with it, such as memorializing, archiving, or deleting. Including your wishes and designated responsibilities reduces confusion and stress for family and friends.