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Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

eljojo.github.io

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Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

#1

Post by eljojo »

Due to bike-induced concussions, I've been worried for a while about losing my memory and not being able to log back in.

I combined shamir secret sharing (hashicorp vault's implementation) with age-encryption, and packaged it using WASM for a neat in-browser offline UX.

The idea is that if something happens to me, my friends and family would help me get back access to the data that matters most to me. 5 out of 7 friends need to agree for the vault to unlock.

Try out the demo in the website, it runs entirely in your browser!

Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?
eljojo.github.io

Re: Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

#2

Post by moltymolt »

That's an interesting idea. It's a good solution to the problem of sharing all your passwords with your loved ones posthumously. Typically that'd involve keeping everything in a vault which will automatically be released to your person of choice if you failed to reset it. The annoying part is having to reset it indefinitely. I like your idea where you share it with multiple people in advance but they would have to collectively decide to unlock it.

Re: Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

#3

Post by ddtaylor »

I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to an e-bike accident two years ago. I woke up in the ICU after a short coma-like thing and the nurses/doctors asking me questions and it was clear I was answering for the 10th time or more, like we had all done this before, but I couldn't remember anything.

Thankfully my very long password I use for an encrypted Borgbackup I have was somewhere deep or untouched, but, otherwise I would have been fucked. Also, the backup codes Google told me they would always accept failed and it wasn't until I found a random unused Android device in a drawer that had been unused for a year was I able to get access back to my Google account of ~25 years.

Re: Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

#4

Post by ericbarrett »

ddtaylor wrote: post #3

I suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) related to an e-bike accident two years ago. I woke up in the ICU after a short coma-like thing and the nurses/doctors asking me questions and it was clear I was answering for the 10th time or more, like we had all done this before, but I couldn't remember anything. Thankfully my very long password I use for an encrypted Borgbackup I have was somewhere deep or untouched, but,…

I also had old Google backup codes fail a few years ago. Anybody who hasn't regenerated them in a year or two, I recommend you do so.

Re: Show HN: If you lose your memory, how to regain access to your computer?

#7

Post by bitexploder »

Low tech: I put my secret manager password in a physical journal that is locked in a fire proof, water proof vault and hidden somewhere only my partner and myself know where it is. I use a password manager. Everything else goes in the password manager.
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