Dead Man's Switch
Configure encrypted vaults to automatically release their content to designated trustees after a specified period of inactivity. Ensures knowledge is not lost if you become unable to access it.
How it works
Set an inactivity threshold -- say 90 days -- and designate trustees. If you do not check in within the threshold, the system begins a grace period with escalating notifications. If the grace period expires without check-in, designated trustees receive decryption access. You can check in at any time to reset the timer. The feature is fully configurable with multiple notification stages.
Dead man's switch configuration with inactivity period and trustee settings
Why it matters
Encryption protects data from unauthorized access, but it also creates a risk: if the key holder becomes permanently unavailable, the knowledge is lost forever. The dead man's switch balances security with continuity, ensuring that encrypted family memories, important documents, or institutional knowledge can always be recovered by trusted people.
Trustee notification sequence showing escalating access stages