And when he died in a prison cell in Barcelona while awaiting extradition to the United States, many thought that a dead man’s switch would activate on the news, especially when a cryptic image was posted to his Instagram account.

So, what is a dead man’s switch, and how do they work? And most importantly, how do you set a dead man’s switch up?

What Is a Dead Man’s Switch?

The concept behind a dead man’s switch is fairly simple. It’s a trigger or a switch designed to activate when its human creator becomes incapacitated, mainly due to death. While originally used for switches in machines, the term has become more popular in computer software.

A dead man’s switch serves as a failsafe, ensuring the release of sensitive information in case the person dies. As you can expect, many also use it as a form of insurance, deterring their enemies from harming them.

Originally, dead man’s switches were primarily used on machines, including locomotives, outboard motors, and even snowmobiles. If the user became incapacitated, they would simply bring the machine into a safe state by reducing the throttle or applying the brakes.

Even if you didn’t know much about dead man’s switches, chances are you’ve seen them in action in popular Hollywood flicks. It’s a popular trope where the villain has a thumb firmly pressed down on the trigger, shouting his demands and threats.

Dead man’s switches are a type of insurance policy designed to trigger an event if human intervention fails.

The Case of John McAfee

John McAfee made a lot of atrocious claims. He claimed to have a dead man’s switch, stating that he had files on corruption in several governments. He stated that he would release more than 31 terabytes of incriminating information if he were arrested.

He even stated that the information would be released the moment he disappeared. Obviously, nothing of the sort materialized—but it captured the imagination. When John McAfee died, only an image was posted on his Instagram channel, with a large Q image.

It was probably a reference to the QAnon movement, which McAfee had been known to joke about. Prior to his death, McAfee had become erratic and even spoke out against the 2021 acquisition of McAfee, though he had long ceased being part of the security company bearing his name.

Many QAnon supporters have made unfounded claims that there are dead man’s switches which include evidence about the activities of the deep state. One of these claims was debunked in Newsweek, another QAnon supporter himself, who clarified that this was just metadata that Facebook uses on photos.

How Dead Man’s Switches Work

While dead man’s switches are used in vehicles and other machines, our primary focus is in terms of software. Generally, a dead man’s switch can be set up and used by anyone with a little technical knowledge.

The software requires you to encrypt data and create a set of triggers that automatically activate if there’s no timely human intervention. For instance, if you fail to log into the software for a specific number of days or if you don’t respond to an automated email, it may trigger a series of events.

Although basic, Google’s Inactive Account Manager is a good example. It’s easy to set up the Inactive Account Manager on Google, but in a way, it works as a dead man’s switch too.

As an account holder, a person can nominate someone to access all their services if they don’t log in for a specific period. Google’s default is three months, though you can change it.

If you don’t log in within that timeframe, Google will automatically provide access to the nominee.

How Can You Create a Dead Man’s Switch?

You can create your own dead man’s switch if you have just a little technical expertise. Otherwise, there are now ready-made tools that you can use, such as Dead Man’s Switch.

This service lets you write a series of emails and decide who to send them to. The emails are encrypted and stored on the company’s servers. After every few days, you’ll receive an email asking you to confirm if you’re fine.

As long as you keep clicking on the link, it won’t trigger. These notifications are sent via email, Telegram, or through your browser. You can easily define the interval and set the time for activation.

If you fail to respond to the notification, the service will automatically send the emails to your recipients. At the moment, the service lets you create two emails for two different recipients. They also have a paid option that lets you create more emails for different recipients.

What About Password Managers?

At the moment, none of the password managers, especially the popular ones, let you create a dead man’s switch. Even the best open-source password managers currently don’t let you create a dead man’s switch.

The obvious solution is to use a service like 1Password’s Emergency Kit and give it to your loved ones. In case of your passing, they’ll be able to access your account and all your passwords.

Setting up a Dead Man’s Switch on Crypto Wallets

If you have a sizeable crypto portfolio that you want to pass off as an inheritance to your kids, creating a dead man’s switch for your crypto holdings makes a lot of sense.

To do this, you’ll first need to invest in a cold wallet, which is generally better than a hot wallet. Once you have the wallet, create an encrypted email with the seed phrase and save it in your Google Account.

In case of inactivity after a certain period, Google’s Inactive Account Manager will transfer access to your loved ones. Or, you can store the seed phrase in a password manager and transfer access through the Emergency Kit stored in your Google Account.

Encrypting and Storing Data in the Cloud

Dead man’s switches work because the data is encrypted and isn’t stored in person. Many people store the data on cloud storage, making it impossible to access unless anyone has the key.

When creating a dead man’s switch, it’s important to first take into account the sensitivity and the value of information. This can help account holders take appropriate measures when securing their information.