In Internet parlance, "deadman switch" refers to any preparations made to handle online accounts through a proxy in case something incapacitates the primary operator. We have lawyers and stuff for real assets, but you have to set up your own provisions for virtual assets.
So, for example, I have given Jay the keys to my blog and an attached G-Suite account. If I die or become unable to do Internet stuff, it's all in his hands. In this case, I'm not leaving any particular instructions because just having to be the back-up is burden enough. My whole image of this is that it's not my ministry; I'm just filling the role of senior elder. The only reason I bother is because I keep hearing noise about how my writings are valuable to some of you.
Would someone else like to take the proxy to handle my books and the Smashwords account? Otherwise, I'm leaving it to my wife, and she's not too keen on messing around with Internet accounts as complicated as that. Be aware that I have multiple back-ups of everything I've written. In the case of the blog, that's everything back to January 2014. I have all my books in multiple formats saved on several different devices (text, HTML, ebook, PDF, LibreOffice and MS Word), and Smashwords keeps their copies in similar formats, plus some that I don't bother with. So you can get your own personal copies of everything from them or from me. Just note that nothing has been printed on paper, and I'm not inclined to work too hard on that. Anyone is welcome to handle that project, too, if they feel like doing that kind of work.
I've checked with Smashwords and have their guidance on how to do things, so we don't violate any terms of service. Most of my other accounts will be just a matter of shutting them down. I've also chatted with the guy who owns the server where my static account is hosted. I can't think of a reason to keep it alive after I pass on, but I've made arrangements with him for a deadman switch, too.
Just in case you are wondering, I don't foresee dying anytime soon. If anything, the issue is more a matter of things like persecution that would keep me offline, though I don't have any concrete threats on that, either. I'm just getting things lined up because the Spirit moves me to do so.
So, for example, I have given Jay the keys to my blog and an attached G-Suite account. If I die or become unable to do Internet stuff, it's all in his hands. In this case, I'm not leaving any particular instructions because just having to be the back-up is burden enough. My whole image of this is that it's not my ministry; I'm just filling the role of senior elder. The only reason I bother is because I keep hearing noise about how my writings are valuable to some of you.
Would someone else like to take the proxy to handle my books and the Smashwords account? Otherwise, I'm leaving it to my wife, and she's not too keen on messing around with Internet accounts as complicated as that. Be aware that I have multiple back-ups of everything I've written. In the case of the blog, that's everything back to January 2014. I have all my books in multiple formats saved on several different devices (text, HTML, ebook, PDF, LibreOffice and MS Word), and Smashwords keeps their copies in similar formats, plus some that I don't bother with. So you can get your own personal copies of everything from them or from me. Just note that nothing has been printed on paper, and I'm not inclined to work too hard on that. Anyone is welcome to handle that project, too, if they feel like doing that kind of work.
I've checked with Smashwords and have their guidance on how to do things, so we don't violate any terms of service. Most of my other accounts will be just a matter of shutting them down. I've also chatted with the guy who owns the server where my static account is hosted. I can't think of a reason to keep it alive after I pass on, but I've made arrangements with him for a deadman switch, too.
Just in case you are wondering, I don't foresee dying anytime soon. If anything, the issue is more a matter of things like persecution that would keep me offline, though I don't have any concrete threats on that, either. I'm just getting things lined up because the Spirit moves me to do so.