From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:57:06 +1300, Your Name <YourName@YourISP.com>
wrote:

Apple has recent-ish system that allows the user to set up a "Legacy >Contact" so that when they die someone else can gain access (with some >restrictions) to the iCloud account files. Usually that requires the
person to set it up before they die, but can also be done using a death >certificate (and a court order in some countries).

I realize you posted that 3 weeks ago but if that is true, then it
doesn't accord with my experience.

My wife died 3 1/2 years ago and I tried to get access to her iPad. I
didn't of course have her password and so they demanded 'proof of
purchase' despite the fact that her name and phone number (same as
mine - and I had ID which gave my phone number!) was physically
engraved (e.g. not just a sticker) on the back of it.

Finally I got them to reinitialize the iPad and after that they STILL
wouldn't give me access to it.

(Since it was a birthday present I sealed the invoice into an envelope
which I included in her card saying "take good care of this" - had I
known what was coming I would have made a photocopy for myself but who
would do that?)

So rather than a working iPad I now have an iBrick. Thanks Apple!
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> schrieb:

My wife died 3 1/2 years ago and I tried to get access to her iPad. I
didn't of course have her password

I have my wife's passwords and vice versa.
--
This USENET posting was made without artificial intelligence,
artificial impertinence, artificial arrogance, artificial stupidity,
artificial flavorings or artificial colorants.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:32:08 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
<snippo: note: this was actually suggested by another post, but I
can't find it now and it is relevant to the stub below>

My 86 year old father passed away suddenly last July. He had EVERYTHING
on his phone. Which he did not tell my mother or me or my brothers what
his pin was. I am now up to testing about 50 or 60 pins so far.

I am now the caregiver for my 84 year old mother who is not very
competent. I had to totally redo their finances since EVERYTHING was on
his phone. And many other things. This second factor crap is worthless >when you pass.

If it involves confirming that the thief holding your cellphone can
read a message and copy a number into their app, it's pretty much crap
now. If all factors are on the same machine, the thief has access to
all factors.
As to the problem: when I made my will, I put a clearly-labled
envelope in plain sight (think one of those plastic mail sorters on a
desk, with the envelope in the last slot). Inside were the various
items from the Attorney plus a document giving immediate advice before
the will is officially read. I also included my password and how to
find a directory called "LastWill" on my main computer which has all
the info and advice they could ever possibly need. Or want; I got
rather carried away.
This may seem to violate all security rules but the principle of
hiding something in plain sight worked in /The Purloined Letter/.
This is part of the Really Big Problem: the only /secure/ computer is
one that is not connected to the Internet. To be connected is to be
vulnerable to attack.
And an unconnected computer needs no password. The entire problem
vanishes. But a lot of the usefulness disappears.
--
"Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,
Who evil spoke of everyone but God,
Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 12/13/2025 1:36 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> schrieb:

My wife died 3 1/2 years ago and I tried to get access to her iPad. I
didn't of course have her password

I have my wife's passwords and vice versa.

So what happens when you both die in the same car crash? <evil grin>
--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> schrieb:

On 12/13/2025 1:36 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> schrieb:

My wife died 3 1/2 years ago and I tried to get access to her iPad. I
didn't of course have her password

I have my wife's passwords and vice versa.

So what happens when you both die in the same car crash? <evil grin>

In that case, our heirs would contact the bank with the appropriate
documents. The devices would not be needed for anything important
(but chances are they would remember the codes).
--
This USENET posting was made without artificial intelligence,
artificial impertinence, artificial arrogance, artificial stupidity,
artificial flavorings or artificial colorants.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.arts.sf.written

On 12/13/2025 2:42 PM, Dimensional Traveler wrote:

On 12/13/2025 1:36 AM, Thomas Koenig wrote:

The Horny Goat <lcraver@home.ca> schrieb:

My wife died 3 1/2 years ago and I tried to get access to her iPad. I
didn't of course have her password

I have my wife's passwords and vice versa.

So what happens when you both die in the same car crash?-a <evil grin>

We have a death book that list everything; accounts & numbers, pass
codes for all devices, where documents are which includes her password
book, and the password for my password program.
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2