Protecting Your Family And Future

Electronic privacy during divorce: 7 critical steps to take

On Behalf of | Oct 17, 2024 | Divorce |

When you’re approaching a divorce, there are a lot of different tasks that have to be completed – but one you cannot afford to overlook is the need to create electronic privacy for yourself. 

If you’re like most people, your personal information is stored (and shared with your spouse) across multiple digital platforms. If your spouse is inclined to snoop and you want to maintain any kind of privacy about your current business or future plans, you need to guard your text messages, emails, social media posts – and maybe even your GPS data.

With that in mind, here are the steps you should take even before you initiate divorce proceedings:

1. Change your passwords

If you have always been open with your spouse about your passwords, it is time for that to change. Update your email, social media accounts, bank accounts, credit card accounts and even your streaming services and shopping accounts with strong, unique passwords for each. Consider a password manager to make it easier to use random passwords that your spouse cannot guess. 

2. Change the passkey to your cell

If your smartphone uses a passkey, the odds are high that your spouse knows it. Since access to your phone can give them access to everything, you want to change that immediately. If possible, use a fingerprint or facial identification key instead of a number.

3. Use two-factor identification 

Many of your accounts (particularly financial ones) will have two-factor identification availability, so hit “enable” on those wherever possible. That will require anybody who wants to access those accounts to also have possession of your smartphone.

4. Create a second email account

At least for the time being, having a second email account can help avoid confusion and keep your sensitive communications safe. A second email (with a unique name) that your spouse doesn’t know about can make it easier to communicate with an attorney, financial advisor, potential landlords and so on – all of which may be necessary during the divorce process.

5. Check for tracking apps and devices

There are all kinds of tracking apps and spyware that are available for very little cost – and your spouse may resort to using one to monitor your activity. If they do, nothing you do on your phone or computer may be private, even if you carefully delete texts, messages and searches. Invest in a good quality spyware detector and use it to scan for location-tracking apps and spyware regularly.

6. Turn off “check-ins” on social media

Do you want to keep your whereabouts from your spouse when you go look at an apartment or have a consultation about your divorce? Make sure you don’t accidentally broadcast your location (and your intentions) through Facebook’s “check-in” or any other social media site that does the same. 

7. Stop posting on social media altogether

Social media can be a great outlet for a lot of people – but it’s a hazard during a divorce. In general, you should probably abandon social media while your divorce is in process so that nothing on there can be used against you. Even seemingly harmless posts can raise concerns about your fitness to parent, your financial responsibility or truthfulness and your overall judgment. You don’t want a stray post to factor into your custody case or the division of assets and support issues. 

Finally, remember this: It’s safest to assume that anything you do online can end up being submitted to the court, so don’t hit “enter” on any text, email, purchase or post without that in mind. If you have additional questions about what you need to do to protect your digital privacy during this time, legal guidance can help.

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