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The board · VOL. 03 / 2026

Things we've been thinking about.

A loose moodboard of writing, screenshots and small notes on encryption, inheritance, and the soft edges of digital privacy. No clean ordering. Pick where you land.

30 BLOCKS UPDATED MAY 02 · 2026
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Editor's pick A glass cube containing a padlocked photo next to an unsealed stack of photos, with cartoon eyes and question marks watching from a dark background 10 min
vault · MAY 02 · 2026

Photo Vault Apps: What Actually Encrypts Your Photos

Most 'photo vault' apps just move your photos into a hidden folder. Here is how real encrypted photo vaults work and how to pick one that is actually private.

Security A locked vault with a transparent server behind it showing only scrambled data 9 min
security · APR 29 · 2026

Is AbsentKey Safe? Security Explained

AbsentKey can't read your passwords. Not 'won't.' Can't. How zero-knowledge encryption and request-based access keep your secrets safe.

Emergency Access An alarm clock with an X next to a calm hourglass with a checkmark 8 min
emergency access · APR 26 · 2026

The Dead Man's Switch That Doesn't Make You Check In

Most dead man's switch apps make you prove you're alive. Miss a check-in and your secrets leak. AbsentKey only acts when someone asks.

Emergency Access Split image: a hand pressing a button on the left, a ticking clock with nobody on the right 10 min
emergency access · APR 23 · 2026

Emergency Access vs Dead Man's Switch

Emergency access waits for someone to ask. A dead man's switch triggers when you stop responding. Why the difference matters for your passwords.

Crypto A crypto coin connected to a countdown timer by a chain 12 min
crypto · APR 20 · 2026

Crypto Dead Man's Switch: How to Protect Your Holdings

$190 million in crypto vanished when QuadrigaCX's founder died with the only keys. Here's how a crypto dead man's switch prevents that.

The plan that survives you is the one you built before you needed it.
How to Share Passwords After Death
Digital Legacy A checkbox list with checkmarks next to a vault icon and a hovering pencil 11 min
digital legacy · APR 17 · 2026

Digital Estate Planning Checklist (2026)

Your estate plan probably doesn't cover your 150+ online accounts. A checklist of digital assets to include and how to share them safely.

Emergency Access A sealed envelope with a lock on a timeline from now to later 13 min
emergency access · APR 14 · 2026

How to Share Passwords After Death

Putting passwords in your will makes them public. Here's how to actually share your passwords after death, securely and without a lawyer.

Comparisons An Apple logo and a vault icon side by side with a shield between them 9 min
comparisons · APR 11 · 2026

AbsentKey vs Apple Digital Legacy: What Apple Doesn't Cover

Apple Digital Legacy requires a death certificate and only covers iCloud data. AbsentKey works while you're alive, shares any secret, with per-person timers. Full comparison.

Crypto A seed phrase grid inside a transparent vault with a crypto coin icon 11 min
crypto · APR 08 · 2026

How to Set Up Crypto Seed Phrase Inheritance

If your seed phrase dies with you, your crypto is gone forever. How to set up a crypto inheritance plan without daily check-ins or giving up your keys.

Comparisons Four different vault icons in a grid with a magnifying glass hovering over them 9 min
comparisons · APR 05 · 2026

Password Manager Emergency Access Compared

Every password manager claims emergency access. What LastPass, Bitwarden, NordPass, Proton Pass, 1Password, and Keeper actually offer.

Six apps, six different bets on the same problem: getting your secrets to the right people.
The 6 Best Dead Man's Switch Services in 2026 (Honest Comparison)
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