Press release 5 December 2014
Nowadays, the Internet is an integral part of our lives. But what happens to a person’s data once they die? According to a representative survey*, around 45 percent of Germans questioned have thought about their funeral, whilst just 19 percent have given some thought to their digital legacy. With its Digital Legacy Guide, ERGO and ERGO Direkt provide numerous tips for dealing with e-mail addresses, social networks, online banking and other services.
After death, most people leave behind a variety of online profiles and accounts. The Digital Legacy Guide is a helpful, free service for surviving dependants and people preparing for the future. It simplifies the process of dealing with digital legacy for heirs and provides internet users with tips on how their heirs will later be able to manage or delete their profiles and accounts without difficulty. For instance, they should write down all access data, for example in a testament. They should also explain and document in time how their digital legacy should be managed, so that it can be done according to their wishes.
What relatives can do
If a loved one has not dealt with this issue in life, it gets more complicated. If the surviving dependants know which services were used, it might be sufficient to simply reset the password, log in and delete the account. Some networks offer special options in the event of death.
What is important offline
Apart from the digital legacy, there are of course many other important things to take care of in case of death, with which most people have very little experience. The digital legacy guide can help here too.
A short video and infographic on the issue of “Death and digital legacy” can be found here:
www.ergodirekt.de/nachlassfilm (in German).
Further information on this topic (in German) is available at:
www.ergo.de/de/Service/Nachlassbegleiter
* Results of ERGO Direkt Versicherung’s “Sterben 2.0” (Dying 2.0) online survey, carried out by the Stiftung: Internetforschung (foundation Internet Research) conducted between 4 and 11 March 2014. Those sur-veyed: N = 2,002, representative of the German residential population with Internet access, aged 18 and over.
For further information, please contact:
About the ERGO Insurance Group
ERGO is one of the major insurance groups in Germany and Europe. Worldwide, the Group is represented in over 30 countries and concentrates on Europe and Asia. ERGO offers a comprehensive spectrum of insurance, provision and services. In its home market of Germany, ERGO ranks among the leading providers across all segments. About 46,000 people work for the Group, either as salaried employees or as full-time self-employed sales representatives. In 2013, ERGO recorded a premium income of 18 billion euros and paid out benefits to customers amounting to 17 billion euros.
ERGO is part of Munich Re, one of the world's leading reinsurers and risk carriers
More at www.ergo.com
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of ERGO Insurance Group. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forwardlooking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
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Click here to view original web page at Dealing with digital legacy
Nowadays, the Internet is an integral part of our lives. But what happens to a person’s data once they die? According to a representative survey*, around 45 percent of Germans questioned have thought about their funeral, whilst just 19 percent have given some thought to their digital legacy. With its Digital Legacy Guide, ERGO and ERGO Direkt provide numerous tips for dealing with e-mail addresses, social networks, online banking and other services.
After death, most people leave behind a variety of online profiles and accounts. The Digital Legacy Guide is a helpful, free service for surviving dependants and people preparing for the future. It simplifies the process of dealing with digital legacy for heirs and provides internet users with tips on how their heirs will later be able to manage or delete their profiles and accounts without difficulty. For instance, they should write down all access data, for example in a testament. They should also explain and document in time how their digital legacy should be managed, so that it can be done according to their wishes.
What relatives can do
If a loved one has not dealt with this issue in life, it gets more complicated. If the surviving dependants know which services were used, it might be sufficient to simply reset the password, log in and delete the account. Some networks offer special options in the event of death.
What is important offline
Apart from the digital legacy, there are of course many other important things to take care of in case of death, with which most people have very little experience. The digital legacy guide can help here too.
A short video and infographic on the issue of “Death and digital legacy” can be found here:
www.ergodirekt.de/nachlassfilm (in German).
Further information on this topic (in German) is available at:
www.ergo.de/de/Service/Nachlassbegleiter
* Results of ERGO Direkt Versicherung’s “Sterben 2.0” (Dying 2.0) online survey, carried out by the Stiftung: Internetforschung (foundation Internet Research) conducted between 4 and 11 March 2014. Those sur-veyed: N = 2,002, representative of the German residential population with Internet access, aged 18 and over.
For further information, please contact:
About the ERGO Insurance Group
ERGO is one of the major insurance groups in Germany and Europe. Worldwide, the Group is represented in over 30 countries and concentrates on Europe and Asia. ERGO offers a comprehensive spectrum of insurance, provision and services. In its home market of Germany, ERGO ranks among the leading providers across all segments. About 46,000 people work for the Group, either as salaried employees or as full-time self-employed sales representatives. In 2013, ERGO recorded a premium income of 18 billion euros and paid out benefits to customers amounting to 17 billion euros.
ERGO is part of Munich Re, one of the world’s leading reinsurers and risk carriers
More at www.ergo.com
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on current assumptions and forecasts of the management of ERGO Insurance Group. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the forward-looking statements given here and the actual development, in particular the results, financial situation and performance of our Company. The Company assumes no liability to update these forwardlooking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.
