There are a million things to remember, figure out and deal with when going through a divorce. One of the things that should be on that list is to take precautions when it comes to technology. Technological advances have improved human lives significantly in Connecticut and across the globe, but technology can also lead to trouble, especially for someone going through a divorce. Here are a few steps to take to keep technology as an asset instead of a liability during divorce.
The most obvious and crucially important first step is to change all passwords. Couples that have been married and know even the most obscure facts about each other’s lives may know what each other’s go-to passwords are. This bit of information can be highly detrimental in the long run. With that information a former spouse may have access to banking information, shopping accounts, social media and even online dating sites. To avoid the mountainous list of ways a vengeful ex can use this information, change all passwords — even for sites that weren’t shared — to unique passwords that don’t involve family member names, pet names or other subjects easy for a former spouse to guess.
Social media is a great way to keep in touch with old friends, but it can also be detrimental during a divorce. All shared accounts should be closed and new, personal ones opened. For personal accounts, any questionable posts, comments or photos should be deleted to prevent a negative impact during negotiations. Profiles may need to be made private to prevent unwanted snooping.
Shared items such as tablets or computers should be wiped clean. Often these devices store passwords or other information one wouldn’t want his or her ex to have access to. Important information should be saved and a backup created before performing a factory rest on the device. This should clear out all information an ex shouldn’t have access to without damaging the device.
Technological advances have greatly improved human life, but they are not without their drawbacks. Taking care to secure important information while removing potentially damaging information is of the utmost importance during a divorce. An experienced Connecticut divorce attorney can guide his or her client through the checklist of what needs to be done to protect his or her interests in pursuit of a favorable settlement.