When you’re reeling from a breakup and trying to deal with your broken heart, the last thing you want to see is any trace of your ex online. So you block and unfollow them, but that’s just the beginning. If you really want to erase them from your digital life? It’s going to take a little more to wipe them away, starting with these steps:
● Change every single password - Sure, it’s a major pain and you don’t want to do it, but even if you use a password manager, you still need to change every single one, including your work sign-in, your email password, your Apple ID, Google account and even your home router’s password.
● Be a liar - When you’re really close to someone, they know a lot about you, like say your first car and where you grew up. And since these are answers to common security questions, your ex may have access to your accounts, whether or not you shared them. If your former flame is tech-savvy or you had a nasty split, make sure you log into sites that contain personal info, like your bank and medical accounts, and change your answers to security questions. Pro tip: Fudge your answers. Make up new ones to be extra safe, just make sure you remember the lies.
● Check your bills - Double-check your accounts to find any accounts you share so you can stop paying for their phone, streaming services and more.
● Don’t forget smart devices - You don’t want your ex being able to see or listen to you without your knowledge, so change passwords for your security system, Amazon Alexa, smart thermostat and smart doorbells and any other Internet-connected devices.
● Banish bad memories - Want to make sure those painful memories of your ex don’t pop up on Facebook? Go to Facebook.com/memories, under Settings, select Hide People, click the box that says “Start typing a name” and type in your ex, their besties and family members, then click Save.
● Change device passcodes, too - Don’t forget to change your phone or tablet’s password as well. And changing your iCloud account password isn’t a bad idea either, better safe than sorry and all.