As Halloween nears, we thought a ghost story would be a good idea. But, this isn’t about Casper or ghosts in the traditional sense at all. This is a new kind of haunting, one that can linger long after death if not exorcised properly. But, before you run off to the nearest Holy Water supply, let me explain just what a digital ghost is, how they impact data security, and how to prevent them from haunting you.
First, let’s set the stage for our haunting. Take a minute to consider all the online accounts you have: email, social media, credit card, online shopping, online utility, and any other kind. Now consider what is stored in each of these accounts: your name, address, phone, email address, credit card info, order history, personal info, and every other kind of data organizations collect. How many logins and passwords do you have? Probably more than you can count. But, what happens when you shuffle loose of your mortal coil? What happens to all of your information? BOO! Enter the digital ghost.
A digital ghost is the digital presence left behind when someone passes away. It’s the digital footprint that exists after we cease to and it can be a nightmare for the people we leave behind. It can lead to legal issues, identity theft and data security breaches. So how do you prevent your digital ghost from haunting your successors? An article from Avvo tells us more: