Divorce and Digital Safety: How to Protect Yourself Online During a Contested Separation in Washington State

Moving through the divorce process in Washington state means that the two parties will need to make several decisions that will allow them to go their separate ways on relatively similar financial footing. If you are approaching the divorce process in the greater Seattle area, you are well aware of some of the decisions you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse will have to make—such as figuring out what to do with your shared home, how you will divide up your bank accounts and other assets, and determining whether spousal maintenance is appropriate or warranted. If you are parents, you will also need to negotiate a parenting plan that supports the best interests of your children. Even if you are parting ways on amicable terms, it is important to recognize that some of these conversations and negotiations can become heated and contentious. Enlisting the guidance of a highly experienced and reliable Seattle divorce attorney can provide you with the support you need to make each decision with greater certainty and confidence. 

While your attorney can help you negotiate a fair and equitable division of assets and advocate for your child’s best interests when creating a parenting plan, this dedicated legal professional can also assist you with other aspects of your Washington divorce. Protecting your digital privacy during divorce is often a concern, and your skilled Seattle divorce lawyer can help you put effective strategies in place to minimize your digital exposure and cyber safety risks during this vulnerable and overwhelming time. Let’s take a look at some of the most common cyber risks during divorce in Washington state and some steps you can take to maintain your digital privacy as you work to finalize your divorce and move forward into the next chapter of your life. 

Recognizing Cyber Risks During Divorce in Washington State

Digital privacy concerns tend to be more prominent in contentious divorce cases, especially if one spouse is hoping to secure a more favorable share of the marital assets. However, even relatively amicable divorces can experience digital privacy concerns. Here are just a few of the concerns and risks concerning technology and contested divorce in Washington state. 

Digital Snooping 

Complex and intense emotions of jealousy, anger, frustration, and vindictiveness can cloud a person’s judgment when their marriage unravels. A spouse may install spyware on the other party’s phone or computer, read their private emails or texts, monitor their cloud storage, or track their location without their knowledge or consent. 

Storing Texts and Emails to Use Against You

In some cases, someone may take screenshots or save images of text messages, emails, and social media posts to make their spouse look bad during the divorce proceedings. These messages, posts, and images can be taken and presented out of context, which can quickly complicate your case.

Wreaking Havoc on Shared Accounts

Spouses often share accounts, like bank accounts, financial apps, streaming services, and cloud storage accounts. A vindictive spouse can take advantage of their ability to access these accounts and expose sensitive information in the wake of a contentious divorce.

Steps For Protecting Accounts in a Separation in King County

As you start to move through the divorce process in Washington state, it’s worth taking some steps to protect yourself and your digital privacy during this vulnerable time. Even if your spouse does not seem like the petty or vindictive type, it is still important to minimize these risks and ensure that your accounts and privacy remain as protected as possible. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Securing Your Devices

First, make sure your electronic devices (like your phone, laptop, iPad, etc.) are secure. You should update the codes for unlocking the screens or enable face recognition so that your ex cannot access these devices. You can also examine your devices to ensure that they are free from any GPS tracking, spyware, or other location-sharing applications. 

Change Your Passwords

In addition to updating the codes for accessing your devices, it’s worth changing your passwords for your email, online bank accounts, or other applications that your ex may attempt to access. Make sure that the new passwords you choose are strong and unique so that your ex will not be able to guess what they are. Many people find that enabling two-factor authentication is a good way to add much-needed security to these sensitive accounts.

Log Out of Shared Accounts and Disable Automatic Syncing

Many couples have shared cloud drives (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, etc.) that automatically sync when one party uploads or accesses a document. Be sure to turn off syncing for location, photos, calendars, and messages on all shared cloud service accounts. Additionally, you should log out of all shared accounts, remove any saved passwords, and update the security settings on each device. 

Social Media Safety Tips During a Seattle Divorce

Another important component of your digital privacy is keeping your social media accounts secure during the divorce process. Your social media profile and the posts you display can leave you vulnerable to harassment or stalking on the part of your ex. Here are some guidelines for how to handle social media accounts and overall communication while preserving online safety in divorce cases.

Adjust the Privacy Settings on Social Media Accounts

The safest action you can take during this vulnerable time is to make your social media accounts as private as possible. You can adjust the privacy settings to make sure that only specific people can view your posts or send you messages through these applications. If your ex continues to comment on your posts or harass you on social media, you can block them or take further action to stop them from stalking you online.

Avoid Posting Anything Personal

The last thing you want is for something you post on social media to anger your ex or make the divorce process even more difficult to navigate. It’s best to avoid inflammatory or controversial posts, which include posts about the divorce itself, your ex, or other sensitive topics like parenting styles or substance use. The most effective way to protect yourself online is to go silent (i.e., to stop posting anything) so that nothing can be used against you as the divorce moves forward.

Let Your Loved Ones Know Why You’ve “Gone Silent”

If you suddenly stop posting on social media because you are hoping to maintain your digital privacy during your divorce, well-meaning friends and family members may suddenly express their concern. In some cases, concerned posts from loved ones can attract the unwanted attention of your ex, which can further complicate an already contentious divorce. It’s worth sharing your strategy for protecting your online safety with your loved ones so that they can understand and support you during this challenging time.

Communicate Via Secure Channels

It’s best to avoid using social media to communicate with others, especially if your ex knew how to access your account. Instead, you can use an email account (with a new, secure password) or create a new email account to ensure that your ex cannot snoop or interfere with these communications. 

Legal Remedies For Tech-Enabled Harassment or Stalking During a Divorce

If your ex is harassing or stalking you during the divorce process, it’s essential to understand your legal rights and options. When you meet with your highly experienced and caring Seattle divorce attorney, you can share your concerns about your ex subjecting you to online harassment, GPS tracking, or other forms of abuse. Depending on the specific circumstances of your case, you can determine whether to seek a Protection Order that prohibits your ex from subjecting you to further harassment, stalking, or abuse. If you decide to pursue a Protection Order, your attorney will help you compile evidence to show why it’s necessary for the court to intervene and stop your ex from these repeated acts of harassment. 

Working With a Trusted Seattle Divorce Attorney to Protect Your Digital Privacy

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of divorce in Washington state, you are far from alone. As isolated and confused as you may feel, it’s essential to recognize that you are not alone. When you partner with a compassionate and experienced Seattle divorce and family law attorney, you can rely on their expertise and support to guide you through every step of this legal process. Together, you can articulate your divorce needs and goals so that you can develop the most effective strategy to secure your desired outcome. 

Get Started With Seattle’s Go-To Divorce Law Firm Today

As one of Seattle’s most trusted law firms, the Hemmat Law Group is committed to providing clients with exceptional service from start to finish. Our team of highly experienced and caring divorce and family law attorneys is ready to work with you to identify your unique needs and concerns so that we can help you achieve your goals. If you are interested in learning more about how we can guide you through the divorce process with the attention and support you need, please contact our Seattle office today at (206) 682-5200 to get started.