You use technology nearly every day. You listen to music or a podcast on your way to work. You use a secure work email for your employment. Your phone keeps track of your schedule, monitors your health and gives you security in knowing your children can contact you in an emergency.
Your entire life nearly fits in the palm of your hand, but you never know what might motivate your ex-spouse to attempt obtaining and exploiting your private data. Here’s how you can protect your data after a divorce:
1. Don’t post too much info online
People frequently post many personal matters online for others to see. Sharing too much information about your personal life online may be problematic after a divorce. People learn a lot of personal information from the posts you make, which may expose you to a vindictive ex. You want to avoid giving information to someone who takes the information about what you’re doing with your life or kids after divorce and uses it as a way to bring you back to court, or bad mouth you to your community. At the very least, consider keeping your posts private or only sharing with a select, trusted group of friends and family.
2. Disconnect accounts and create a strong, new password
During their relationships, many couples share passwords to streaming accounts, social media or bank accounts. Be sure to disconnect your accounts. Also remember to remove your ex from any Cloud based services that gave them access to your email recovery, shared photographs or calendars, or any other data. Some people continue sharing accounts even after divorce, but some passwords may give your ex-spouse too much access; do not use the same password across multiple accounts, especially if you and your ex still share Netflix for the benefit of your children.
3. Enable two-factor authentication
One of the many benefits of online security is ensuring your private data is securely locked behind password protection. Social media and banking accounts now offer people to use two-factor authentication tools. Typically, this means no one can access your private accounts without first authorizing the access with an email or text. Check with each of your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication wherever it is available to you.
As you consider altering your social media accounts, you may consider reaching out for legal help to ensure you’re taking the right steps when protecting your private life after divorce. The attorneys at Maddox & Gerock, P.C. are here to help you.
