Technology
How to ensure your passwords don’t die with you
As technology becomes more integrated into our lives, we need to consider how it affects our legacy and our loved ones. There are some uncomfortable but necessary end-of-life conversations we should all have with our loved ones, but passwords usually aren’t one of them.
Yet with so much of our professional, personal and financial life online, it is more important now to include how to handle your digital life in those conversations.
That’s what Ashley is tackling right now as it relates to her husband, and this is the question she has for us.
“My spouse still writes his passwords down so I can access them in case of his death. I’m reading today about password managers and thinking we should do that, but if one of us passes, can the other access it? Thank you. What other ways can we prep for an unexpected death?” — Ashley, Fairhope, AL
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A couple discussing digital life (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
This is not an easy topic to discuss, but it is a necessary one. Having access to necessary accounts can be one less hurdle to face should you bear the loss of a loved one. While it may not be the most joyful conversation to have, we’re really glad you brought this issue up, Ashley.
Figuring out a strategy for what happens to your passwords can be helpful not just when someone passes, but also if you’re unable to access your accounts because of medical procedures or long-term travel. Below are several strategies to continue to protect your information while sharing it effectively and safely.
MORE: THE VERY WORST AND WEAKEST PASSWORDS OF 2023
How to use password managers to plan for death and emergencies
Password managers are useful tools that generate and store unique passwords for your online accounts, making them more secure than using the same password or writing them down. They also have features that allow you to share your passwords with trusted people in case of an emergency or death.
You can choose who will inherit your password manager account and what passwords they can access. You can also set temporary access for situations like medical procedures or travel, which will expire after a certain time. This way, you can ensure that your digital assets are protected and accessible by the right people.
AI CAN GUESS YOUR PASSWORD WITH UNPRECEDENTED ACCURACY BY ‘LISTENING’ TO KEYSTROKES
Note: Having access to someone’s banking account login and passwords is not the same thing as having the right to access another person’s money. You would need to get in touch with the financial institution and follow the appropriate protocol for handling any transfers and account terminations. Often, one would need to be listed as a joint account holder or beneficiary of the account.
ARE YOUR PASSWORDS SAFE?
When creating passwords, come up with strong and unique ones
It’s always a good reminder to create strong passwords for your accounts and devices and avoid using the same password for multiple online accounts. A password manager will securely store and generate complex passwords. It will help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess.
Second, it also keeps track of all your passwords in one place and fills passwords in for you when you’re logging into an account so that you never have to remember them yourself. The fewer passwords you remember, the less likely you will be to reuse them for your accounts.
What qualities should I look for in a password manager?
When it comes to choosing the best password manager for you, here are some of my top tips.
- Deploys secure
- Works seamlessly across all of your devices
- Creates unique complicated passwords that are different for every account
- Automatically populates login and password fields for apps and sites you revisit
- Has a browser extension for all browsers you use to automatically insert passwords for you
- Allows a fail-safe in case the primary password is ever lost or forgotten
- Checks that your existing passwords remain safe and alerts you if ever compromised
- Uses two-factor authentication security
Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers with digital inheritance features of 2024.
Samsung device showing login screen (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Create a digital inheritance plan with password managers and other tools
In addition to utilizing a password manager for everyday life as well as in case of emergency, there is something to be said about creating a concrete digital inheritance plan. If you’re using a password manager, you should discuss and leave clear instructions on how to gain access to the account, as there are many fail-safe measures in place that would make gaining access to the account after passing challenging.
Regardless of whether you are using a third-party service or not, you should leave a specific outline of what to do with your online accounts and digital assets like photos and videos, in the event of your passing.
MORE: HOW TO UNLOCK AN ANDROID AND WINDOWS PC WHEN THE OWNER PASSES AWAY
How to memorialize or delete your social media accounts when you’re gone
In the setting section of most social media accounts, you have the option to select memorialization. If you use Meta to manage your Instagram and Facebook accounts, you can find it under Account Ownership and Control. You can choose a person to manage your memorialized profile or permanently delete your profile after you pass.
Facebook account login (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MORE: HOW TO BE REMEMBERED FOREVER ON FACEBOOK
Kurt’s key takeaways
Password managers can make this lifetime and the life of those you leave behind much easier by providing a way to easily transfer access to important online accounts to your trusted contacts. It’s uncomfortable for most to begin, but surprisingly easy once you’re prepared. Having clear and detailed discussions, as well as leaving written instructions of how you’d like your digital life to be handled in the worst-case scenario, will give you and your family the peace of mind everyone deserves.
How do you plan to handle your digital life after death? Have you considered using a password manager or other tools to share your passwords and online accounts with your loved ones? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact
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Technology
Jury finds Elon Musk’s ‘stupid tweets’ caused Twitter investors’ losses
A California jury determined that Elon Musk misled Twitter investors before making a $44 billion deal to buy the company in 2022, reports CNBC. The New York Times reports that Musk had testified this month that he didn’t believe his posts would spook markets, but he did say that “If this was a trial about whether I made stupid tweets, I would say I’m guilty.”
CNBC reports Musk’s attorneys are expected to file an appeal, as damages could reach as high as $2.6 billion, according to attorneys representing the plaintiffs.
While finding that Musk did not engage in a specific scheme to defraud shareholders, the jury cited two of Musk’s tweets, from May 13th and May 27th, 2022, as materially false or misleading, causing some investors to sell shares in Twitter at values below the $54.20 per share bid.
Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users
20% fake/spam accounts, while 4 times what Twitter claims, could be *much* higher.
My offer was based on Twitter’s SEC filings being accurate.
Yesterday, Twitter’s CEO publicly refused to show proof of
This deal cannot move forward until he does.
Technology
AI smart glasses could generate fake photos instantly
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Smart glasses are gaining new momentum thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Companies like Google, Meta, Samsung and possibly Apple are exploring AI-powered glasses that combine cameras, speakers, voice assistants and computer vision in a wearable device.
At first glance, the features sound familiar. Smart glasses can take photos, give directions, answer questions and help you navigate the world hands-free. However, a recent demo hints at something much bigger.
These glasses may soon generate or alter photos instantly. In other words, the image you capture may no longer reflect what was actually there.
That raises an important question: If AI can change a photo the moment it is taken, how do we know what is real anymore?
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SMART GLASSES DETECTOR APP WARNS IF YOU’RE BEING RECORDED
Google product lead Dieter Bohn demonstrates prototype AI smart glasses during a demo showing how the device can capture and modify photos using generative AI. (X/ @backlon)
A new AI trick inside smart glasses
During a demo of upcoming smart glasses, Google’s Dieter Bohn showed how the device could capture a photo and modify it using AI. The prototype, shown as Android XR glasses with a display, connects to Google’s generative AI tools, including Google Gemini and an experimental image generator called Nano Banana.
In the demonstration, Bohn asked the glasses to take a photo of people in the room. Then he gave another command. He asked the system to place those people in front of the famous church in Barcelona that he could not remember by name.
Within moments, the AI produced a new image showing the group standing in front of the Sagrada Família. The people in the photo never traveled to Spain. The background came from AI. To someone viewing the image later, it could look like a real travel photo.
Smart glasses are following the same playbook
The hardware approach behind these devices looks similar across the industry.
Most smart glasses include:
- A built-in camera
- Speakers for audio feedback
- A microphone and a voice assistant
- Computer vision powered by AI
- Navigation and contextual information
- Optional displays inside the lenses
This design mirrors products like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, which combine sunglasses with an AI assistant and camera. Those glasses already allow users to capture photos, livestream video and ask questions using voice commands. However, the editing tools currently available inside Meta’s glasses focus more on artistic effects. For example, the system can transform photos into a cartoon or painting style. The goal is creative expression rather than photorealistic manipulation. Google’s demo hints at something different. It shows how AI can place people into entirely new scenes that never happened.
INSIDE MICROSOFT’S AI CONTENT VERIFICATION PLAN
A close-up of prototype Android XR glasses with a built-in display, part of Google’s concept for AI-powered smart glasses. (X/ @backlon)
Why this matters for photography
AI-generated images already exist across social media. Smartphones have also introduced powerful editing tools. Google’s Pixel phones, for example, have leaned heavily into AI photography with tools that remove objects, adjust lighting and generate backgrounds.
The difference with smart glasses is speed. The technology removes the delay between taking a photo and editing it. Instead of capturing an image and opening editing software later, the AI can change the photo immediately. That could make altered images far more common. Photos that once served as proof of where someone was or what happened may become harder to trust.
The demo still leaves open questions
It is important to note that the Google demo was short and carefully staged. The company acknowledged that parts of the video were edited. That suggests the AI process may take longer in real-world conditions.
There is also the question of reliability. Generative AI tools sometimes produce mistakes, strange artifacts or unrealistic details. Still, even an imperfect system could change how people interact with cameras and images. As the technology improves, the gap between real and AI-generated photos may shrink.
What this means for you
Smart glasses could soon become another everyday device. That means the way we capture and share images may shift again. If these tools become common, you may start seeing photos that were generated or heavily modified by AI. A picture posted online may look like a real moment from someone’s life. In reality, it could be a mix of real people and AI-generated scenery. That does not mean every image is fake. It does mean digital images may carry less proof than they once did. Understanding how AI editing works can help you approach viral photos, travel shots or dramatic images with a healthy level of skepticism.
Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses combine cameras, speakers and an AI assistant, showing how wearable devices are bringing artificial intelligence into everyday eyewear. (Meta)
How to spot AI-generated or altered photos
AI editing tools are becoming easier to use. That means altered images may appear more often online. A few habits can help you avoid being misled.
1) Question images that look too perfect
If a photo looks unusually polished or dramatic, pause before assuming it is real. AI images often create scenes that feel cinematic or unusually clean.
2) Look closely at small details
AI systems sometimes struggle with small elements. Check hands, reflections, shadows and background objects for strange shapes or mismatched lighting.
3) Check where the image came from
If a photo spreads quickly online, try to trace the original source. Reverse image search can reveal if the picture appeared somewhere else first.
4) Be cautious with viral travel or event photos
AI tools can place people into locations they have never visited. A convincing background does not guarantee that the moment actually happened.
5) Watch for photos used in scams or misinformation
AI-generated images can appear in fake travel posts, romance scams or misleading news claims. If a photo appears alongside urgent requests for money or emotional stories, take time to verify it before reacting. Avoid clicking suspicious links and consider using strong antivirus software that can block malicious websites and scam pages before they load. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
6) Treat photos online as information, not proof
Photos once served as strong evidence of where someone was or what occurred. With generative AI, an image may be a mix of real people and computer-generated scenes.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Smart glasses promise convenience, hands-free computing and powerful AI tools. At the same time, they blur the line between photography and digital creation. Technology keeps pushing toward a world where capturing a moment and generating one can happen in the same instant. The devices themselves may become smaller and smarter. The challenge may be deciding how much we trust the images they produce.
So here is the question worth asking. If AI glasses can create realistic photos of places you’ve never visited, will pictures still count as proof of reality? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Technology
Microsoft is ending the Windows Update nightmare — and letting you pause them indefinitely
While Microsoft isn’t doing away with automatic updates entirely, Windows boss Pavan Davuluri is promising that in future, you’ll be able to pause them “for as long as you need.” You’ll be able to reboot or shut down your computer “without being forced to install them.” To be fair to Microsoft, I’ve seen an option to reboot or shutdown without updating for a while now.
Even if you fail to pause them, you’ll only have to reboot your computer once a month, Microsoft promises — though its says you’ll be able to get updates faster if you wish. If you’re the kind of user who wants new features so quickly that you’re part of the Windows Insider Program, Microsoft says it’ll make that easier and make it clearer what you’ll get.
And as part of those updates, Microsoft says that this year, it will improve performance, responsiveness and stability, reduce memory consumption, make File Explorer and other apps launch and run faster, reduce crashes, improve drivers, make devices wake up more reliably, and much, much more.
It feels like Microsoft has also taken our feedback about the recent ridiculous hour-plus setup process for some Windows handhelds and laptops to heart. Davuluri writes that we’ll have “the ability to skip updates during device setup to get to the desktop faster.” And even if you sit through, there should be “fewer pages and reboots to getting started is simpler.” Plus, Microsoft will finally let you use gamepad controls to create your PIN during setup, instead of making you smudge the touchscreen.
Bravo, Microsoft, if this is all true, and if you can implement it in a reasonable length of time.
Davuluri writes that his team has spent months analyzing the feedback of Windows users, and “What came through was the voice of people who care deeply about Windows and want it to be better.”
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