Digital Security After Divorce: Passwords, Shared Accounts, and Device Access
Digital Security After Divorce: Passwords, Shared Accounts, and Device Access
Your divorce decree handles the house, the car, and the bank accounts. It says nothing about the dozens of digital accounts, shared subscriptions, and connected devices that are still intertwined. This is one of the first things to handle — ideally within the first 72 hours — because digital access gives your ex visibility into your finances, location, communications, and plans.
Change Passwords Immediately
Start with the accounts that matter most for security and privacy:
Email — this is the master key. Whoever controls your email can reset passwords on virtually every other account. Change your email password first, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if you haven't already, and review your recovery options (remove your ex's phone number or backup email if they're listed).
Banking and financial apps — online banking, investment accounts, credit cards, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle. Change passwords and remove your ex as an authorized user where applicable.
Cloud storage — Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive. If you shared files during the marriage, your ex may still have access to documents you upload going forward.
Social media — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X. Beyond passwords, review your privacy settings and remove your ex from any "trusted contacts" or account recovery options.
Shopping accounts — Amazon, subscriptions with saved payment methods. If your credit card is still saved on their account (or theirs on yours), remove it.
Use a password manager to generate unique, strong passwords for every account. Reusing passwords across accounts means one breach compromises everything.
Remove Your Ex From Shared Accounts
Apple (iCloud, Family Sharing)
If you shared an Apple Family Sharing plan, the organizer can remove members from Settings > [your name] > Family Sharing. If your ex is the organizer, you'll need to leave the group yourself and set up your own Apple ID ecosystem.
Shared iCloud storage is trickier — if you were on a shared storage plan, separating means each person needs their own plan. Back up your photos and files before making changes.
Also check: Find My (location sharing), shared photo albums, shared Notes, shared Reminders, and any Apple devices still signed in with shared credentials.
Google (Gmail, Drive, Photos, Maps)
Review your Google account's security settings at myaccount.google.com/security. Check:
- Devices — sign out of devices you don't control
- Third-party access — revoke any apps authorized by your ex
- Google Maps location sharing — turn it off if it's active
- Google Photos shared albums — unshare or leave albums
- Google Drive sharing — audit shared folders and documents
Amazon
Remove shared payment methods, change your password, and deauthorize devices you don't control from Manage Your Content and Devices.
Streaming Services
Netflix, Spotify, Disney+, YouTube TV, Hulu — if you shared accounts, change the password and review active profiles and devices. Most services let you sign out all devices at once from the account settings page.
Audit Connected Devices
Home Wi-Fi router. Change the admin password and Wi-Fi network password. Your ex may still be connected to your home network, which gives access to any device on it — smart home controls, security cameras, printers, shared drives.
Smart home devices. Alexa, Google Home, Ring doorbells, Nest thermostats, smart locks — remove your ex's account access. For shared devices like a Ring doorbell, the owner account controls who has access; shared users should be removed.
Vehicles with connected services. Modern cars with OnStar, FordPass, BMW Connected Drive, or Tesla app access can be tracked, remotely locked/unlocked, or monitored. Remove your ex's access through the manufacturer's app or contact the dealer.
Location tracking. Beyond Find My and Google location sharing, check for:
- Life360 or other family location apps
- Shared Tile or AirTag trackers
- Phone carrier family plan location features
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Secure Your Phone
If you were on a shared phone plan, your ex (as the account holder) may have access to call logs, text metadata, and account management. Moving to your own phone plan gives you full control.
If you're staying on the shared plan temporarily, be aware that the account holder can typically see call and text details (though not message content) through the carrier's website.
Review the apps on your phone. Delete any monitoring or shared apps you no longer need. Check your phone's privacy settings for apps that have location access, microphone access, or contact access.
Protect Your Financial Identity
Credit freeze. Place a freeze at all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). This prevents anyone — including your ex — from opening new credit accounts in your name. It's free, instant online, and you can temporarily lift it when you need to apply for credit yourself.
Credit monitoring. Sign up for free credit monitoring through your bank or a service like Credit Karma. This alerts you to any new accounts, inquiries, or changes to your credit report.
Mail forwarding. If you've moved, set up USPS mail forwarding immediately. Financial statements, tax documents, and other sensitive mail going to your old shared address creates both a privacy and a security risk.
The Illinois After-Divorce Checklist includes a digital security sweep worksheet covering every category above — passwords, shared accounts, connected devices, and financial identity protection — so nothing gets overlooked in the first critical days.
Get Your Free Illinois — After-Divorce Life-Admin Checklist
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