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Dead Man Switch (lemmy.world)

submitted 7 months ago by ransomwarelettuce@lemmy.world to c/programming@programming.dev

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This week I read a post about the death of the Boeing whistleblower, and how Boeing might have suicided him.

I don't care about if the rumors are true or not, however someone mentioned in the comments that in such situations one should always have a Dead Man Switch.

For those who don't know a Dead Man Switch is basically an action TBD in case you die, like leaking documents, send messages/emails, kill a server etc . . .

The concept tickled me a bit, and I decided I want to build a similar system for myself. No, I am not in danger but I would like to send last goodbyes to friends and family. I think it would be cool concept.

How would you go and build such service?

I thinking of using a VPS to do the actions because it would be running for a while before my debit card gets cancelled.

The thing that is bugging me out is the trigger, I will not put that responsibility onto someone that's cheating, so it would have to be something which can reliably tell I am dead and has to run regularly.

Where is what I come up with :

Ask a country association through email if am I am dead.
Check if I haven't logged out on my password manager in a week. If it's even possible.

TLDR; Give me ideas on how to build a DEAD MAN SWITCH and what triggers should I use.

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[–] abhibeckert@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

I thinking of using a VPS to do the actions because it would be running for a while before my debit card gets cancelled.

Your debit card could be cancelled very quickly. But most VPS providers allow you to pay in advance, so you could maintain something like $100 credit with the provider... which goes a long way if they charge $5 per month for example.

[–] ransomwarelettuce@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

yeah that's a solution. But that card thing might differ from country to country I said this based on experience with my father.

But hell it could even vary from bank to bank, so your solution would be the best.