How to protect your digital legacy

Celine Latulipe, University of Manitoba professor, shares why managing your online accounts now can protect your data and loved ones later.

A University of Manitoba professor is sharing her knowledge about what happens to your digital footprint after you die.

Celine Latulipe, a U of M computer science professor, is hosting a TEDx Talk titled “Take Control of Your Digital Legacy Now,” where she’ll discuss how to manage your online life, data and memories.

In an interview with Your Morning Winnipeg on Wednesday, she said it’s important to protect your assets and privacy for when you pass away.

“Talk to your friends and family ahead of time,” she said. “It’s really important that you do that.”

One way to plan ahead is to assign legacy contacts for your social media and email accounts.

By doing this, only a trusted person will be able to access your information after your death and set your social media profiles to in memoriam.

“That’s a good thing to do, but it’s not going to happen automatically,” Latulipe said.

“You do have to set up that legacy contact. So you have to plan ahead for that.”

Latulipe noted that many people have online activity that they don’t want their friends and family to know about, which can make things tricky.

“If you have that type of thing going on, you really need to think carefully about how you can separate accounts and assets and maybe, find ways for people that you do trust in those communities to be able to shut down your accounts,” she explained.

“It is important to shut down your accounts because if you don’t, they can become a target for hackers.”

TEDx Winnipeg is set to take place on May 28 at the University of Manitoba.

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé