A smart way to share sensitive info

Meet your new high-tech emergency ally  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [Cool Tools, by The Intelligence](#) Brought to you by: [mint mobile logo]()​ Most of the tools we talk about tend to be things that make our own lives a little bit easier — often in some small but significant way. Today's tool takes a twist. It's a free, open-source website that's all about giving you a simple way to leave important info for your friends, family, or other loved ones in case of an emergency. Morbid undertones aside, it's actually a really clever concept — and something that could be quite useful in the right sort of situation, so long as you take a couple quick minutes to set it up now. [JR Raphael, Author of Android Intelligence] JR Raphael​ Author of [Android Intelligence]()​ --------------------------------------------------------------- SPONSORED MESSAGE Real quick, first, a heads-up about some smart and timely savings you won't want to miss: Our partner [Mint Mobile, champion of fully-loaded, no-nonsense phone plans](), is offering our readers ANY 3-month plan for just 15 bucks a month right now. (That’s a 50% off discount on the Unlimited Plan!) [Dog looking shocked with word "whaaat?"]()​ Better yet, for any new customer who purchases a plan by May 31, you’ll also get a [6-month subscription to Paramount+ Essentials at no additional cost](). *Excuse us while we pick our jaws up off the floor* What Mint Mobile brings to the table (besides ~epic~ savings): ✅ Unlimited talk ‘n’ text on the nation’s largest 5G network 🤝 Optional BYO phone (and #) and flexible monthly plans 👪 Mix-and-match family plans, also starting at $15/month/line 🙌 Free mobile hotspot, Wi-Fi calling, and digital eSIMs for same-day activation No wonder Mint scored “Best Cell Phone Plans” by U.S. News and The New York Times… ➜ [Ready to save a fistful of cash? Make the switch to Mint Mobile today!]()​ [SWITCH IN JUST 15 MINUTES ➜]() * Service currently available in the U.S. only. ​ Your life, in a QR code The idea around today's tool is all about being prepared in case something unfortunate happens to you — a lovely thing to think about, I realize. But a teensy touch of pondering now could make all the difference in the world for your loved ones, especially with a tool like this in the mix. ➜ It's called — brace yourself — [WeExpire](. Uplifting, no? ⌚ It's well worth your while to look over, though, and it'll take you only about two minutes to set up and start using. ✅ The way WeExpire works is simple: - You create a private emergency note within the service. It can say anything you want, and no one else will ever see it — unless you share the pertinent access info with them. [A screenshot showing a WeExpire note being created — with a subject line, message body, and preferred inactivity verification time] ​ - Amphibian confessions aside, your note could include anything you want to share with any specific person. You could even create multiple notes for multiple people, if you have different messages you'd like to ensure get seen when the time is right. - After you write a note, the service encrypts it and converts it into a QR code. [A screenshot showing a WeAccess note in QR code form, with an access code for decrypting] ​ - You can either print or digitally share that QR code — along with the access code required to unencrypt it — to anyone you want. The service even provides simple instructions for the person to scan and open it if they ever think you're seriously hurt or suffering from a mild case of — erm, well...y'know. Death. When your trusted contact tries to access the note, WeExpire will send an email to your address and make sure you aren't actually still around and responsive. By default, you'll have a week to respond and cancel the request before access to the note is granted. But you can set that waiting period to be anywhere from a single day to six months, if you want. [An email from WeExpire verifying that an emergency note should be accessible] ​ 🔏 What's especially thoughtful about this service is that your note is stored entirely within the QR code and nowhere on the WeExpire servers. So there's really no way anyone could ever access it unless you give them the code. (WeExpire is even open source, which means anyone with the right amount of savvy could [peek at its code]() to confirm that's correct.) It's an interesting idea and a refreshingly practical way to make tech helpful — even after we ourselves are no longer around to guide it. 📌 WeExpire is [accessible on the web](, in any browser and on any device. 💰 The service is a non-profit created by an individual developer in his spare time. It's completely free to use, with optional donations (if you're so inspired). 🕶 WeExpire doesn't collect, store, or share any manner of personal data — including the contents of your notes — and since it's open source, that's something anyone can confirm. Now, before we call it a day, time to test your geek IQ in this same subject area... ​ This Week's Cool Tools Quiz What’s the official name of Google’s tool for sharing account access with loved ones after an extended period of inactivity? Remember: NO CHEATING! Anyone can look up info on the web. Stick with the spirit of the game and test your actual knowledge without searching. It's just for fun, anyway! [Google Death Planner]() [Digital Will Manager]() [Inactive Account Manager]() [Google Gone]() Answer correctly before next Wednesday and secure your spot on the [Cool Tools Leaderboard](=)! 👉 Last week's question and answer: Which video platform did Google own before YouTube? Google Video. While the name sounds obvious, Google Video is now largely forgotten. Google Video launched at the start of 2005 and was shut down in 2012. Google purchased YouTube in 2006, and that became the company's big video focus. 🤚 Wait! Before you go: What'd you think of this issue? [Thumbs Up](=) [Thumbs Down]( Hit the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to cast your vote and let us know. ​ Want less email? [Update your reading preferences](=) to opt out of any individual publications or unsubscribe entirely. New here and not yet subscribed? Take two seconds to [sign up for our newsletters](): Cool Tools, Android Intelligence, or Windows Intelligence (or all three!). Hungry for even more? [Learn about becoming an Intelligence Insider,](=) our one-of-a-kind community where you'll have access to power-packed advanced resources, an on-demand help desk, and tons of free apps and services. Independent journalism relies on you. 🤝 An [Intelligence Insider membership](=) is the best way to support our work and keep this newsletter sustainable. Not ready for a membership? You can also support our work by making a [direct one-time contribution](=) (or contribute via [PayPal]( or [Venmo](=)) to ensure we're able to keep writing for you long into the future! # #