Breaking up or getting divorced? How to remove your ex from your digital life
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You get married or move in together, and your lives are tied in countless ways: a mortgage, the power bill, and your relationship status on social media sites.
Then it ends, and you're left with a lot of heartache and a lot of work. It's bad enough thinking about everything strangers know about you. Tap or click for the steps to do a thorough background check on yourself, so you know what others can dig up.
Someone who knows you well has access to so much more info.
If things ended badly, you would be wise to check your phone for software that records what you do. Sadly, I've heard from many people over the years whose ex installed a spy program. Tap or click here for the clues you’re being watched.
Sure, you’re going to block and unfollow your ex. That’s a start, but you have to do more to clean up your digital life.
YOUR APPLE WATCH CAN ONLY SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU TURN ON THESE FEATURES
Change every single password
Your browser stores all your passwords. You need to change every single one. I know it's a major pain, and you don't want to do it. Even if you use a password manager, you should change every password.
Think of other passwords. You need a new email password and a new password for all your accounts. Don't forget your Apple ID and Google account or your work sign-in.
I’ll leave it up to you and your ex to decide who gets to keep the Netflix login.
Be a liar
When you’re close to someone, they know a lot about you. That very well might include where you grew up, your first car, your mom’s maiden name … Yeah, you can see where I’m going.
These are common security questions. Your answers can give someone access to your accounts whether or not you shared them.
If your breakup was particularly nasty or you have a tech-savvy ex, make sure you do this step. Log into sites that contain sensitive personal information, like your bank, medical accounts and financial accounts. Find your security questions in the preferences or account menu and change your answers.
Pro tip: Fudge your new answers. Most of the details in the default security questions are shockingly easy for someone else to find. Go ahead and make up a new one. The caveat, of course, is making sure you remember the lies.
Check your bills
Double-check all your accounts to see what you share. Your phone plan and streaming services for movies, TV and music are a good place to start. On the bright side, you may now be able to drop from a family subscription down to a single account and save money.
If you’re struggling to remember everything you shared, go into your bank app and sort by payments. You can also search your inbox for "receipt" or "payment" to make sure you get them all. One more place to check your subscriptions in the App Store if you have an iPhone or the Play Store for Android.
SAVE SOME CASH: You might as well save some green while you’re at it. I’ve got 8 proven ways cheap people lower their monthly internet, cable and streaming bills.
Don’t forget smart devices
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From security cameras to smart speakers, access to the right account can let your ex see or listen to you without your knowledge. Now that’s creepy.
It’s time to change even more passwords. Do this for your security system, your smart thermostat, your Amazon Alexa account if you have one, smart doorbells, and any other internet-connected devices with their own standalone accounts.
Be sure to change your home router’s password. Many routers offer remote access that your ex can use to look at the router’s logs and connected devices. Tap or click for easy steps to change the router’s password, even if you’re not sure what it is.
Banish bad memories
It’s painful when a memory pops up on Facebook or in your photos app, reminding you of better (or worse) times.
On Facebook, go to facebook.com/memories and select Hide People under Settings. Next, click the box that says "Start typing a name…" and type in the person you want to forget. Click Save.
If you use Apple Photos, go to Albums > People > Select. Choose the person you want to get rid of and tap Remove.
In Google Photos, choose Photo settings > Memories > Hide people & pets. Choose who you want to get rid of. When you’re finished, tap the back arrow and you’re all set.
Up your tech know-how: 7 IT questions we get all the time, answered
Change device passcodes, too
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Don’t forget about your phone’s passcode and your computer or tablet’s password, too. Yes, your ex would need physical access to get into those devices, but better safe than sorry.
On an iPhone with Face ID, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. On an iPhone with a Home button, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode.
Your iCloud account allows access to your emails, texts, photos, contacts, notes, calendar and more. Even if you logged in once or twice on your ex’s computer or phone, your passwords might be saved.
To change your iCloud password, you’ll have to change your Apple ID password. On your iOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > Password & Security > Change Password.
On an Android phone, open Settings > Security. Tap Screen lock to change your passcode. Note: If you don’t find screen lock settings under Security, find steps on your phone’s support site or online manual.
On a Windows PC, go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Click Password, then Change. Do the same for Windows Hello PIN if you use that.
To change your Mac password, go to step 1 here.
Bonus Tip: She passed away. Then he turned her into an AI chatbot.
Joshua Barbeau decided to cope with the death of his girlfriend by creating an AI chatbot based on her personality. We talked about how this $5 program works and what he learned along the way. It’s creepy and insanely fascinating at the same time.
Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, "Komando."
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Learn about all the latest technology on The Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters, and more, visit her website at Komando.com.
