Passbox
Security and privacy
digital legacy and password sharing
SHOW HN2019
How HN took it
4 positive, 31 neutral or asking, 2 mixed, 33 critical, out of 70 comments about the project. Thread score -0.41.
Idea: 3 for, 11 againstPricing: 0 for, 8 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 7 againstExecution: 0 for, 5 againstDocs: 0 for, 2 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Idea for digital legacy is appreciated and useful.
From 2 comments
Interesting! This was kind of my software engineering II project back in college a decade ago. I wrote it in PHP. You configured all sorts of different actions that would occur…
MrLeap on HNI thought about doing this several times but backed off because of dark connotations with death :)
option_greek on HN
Objections
Users must trust a third party with sensitive data.
From 3 comments
I’ve given a lot of thought to this problem lately after becoming a parent. However, I just can’t picture trusting this to a third party. Ideally I’d store my master password to…
bronco21016 on HNAsking users to trust a random web service with their most sensitive data almost feels like a prank.
beshrkayali on HNTwo concerns: 1. I don't think I can trust a new 3rd party with private data 2. I don't think this service will live long enough to be around for another 50+ years This service…
miguelmota on HN
Pricing is too high for the service.
From 3 comments
A few comments: - I think the pricing structure is way too high. $60/year is quite a bit for what you are offering. At that price, I would rather rent a safety deposit box with a…
chadash on HNGet rid of $5.99 / mo, charge a flat $99 lifetime. Monthly doesn't make sense at all for this kind of service. I have no plan on dying anytime soon.
madamelic on HNWouldn't it be nice to leave 60$/year to those you really care instead?
Dolores12 on HN
Email notifications could be missed, enabling misuse.
From 1 comment
My trusted friend decides to try to access all my online accounts, and requests access to my Passbox. Passbox sends me an email informing me of the request. Oops. The email from…
kangnkodos on HN
Company longevity over decades is doubtful.
From 2 comments
Two concerns: 1. I don't think I can trust a new 3rd party with private data 2. I don't think this service will live long enough to be around for another 50+ years This service…
miguelmota on HNWhat if Passbox dies before I do?
GaryNumanVevo on HN
Requests
Offer a lifetime one-time payment option.
From 2 comments
Get rid of $5.99 / mo, charge a flat $99 lifetime. Monthly doesn't make sense at all for this kind of service. I have no plan on dying anytime soon.
madamelic on HNI’m surprised there wasn’t a lifetime plan for $5.99. The cost to store that amount of minimal data is moot. I would never pay monthly for something like this - but would likely…
bobbonew on HN
Sync updates automatically rather than manual re-entry.
From 1 comment
A few comments: - I think the pricing structure is way too high. $60/year is quite a bit for what you are offering. At that price, I would rather rent a safety deposit box with a…
chadash on HN
Clearer comparison of free and paid features.
From 1 comment
You should line up the free and paid features, perhaps in a table. I can't glance at a list of 8 items and a list of 10 items and distinguish what changed between them, so I'm…
ken on HN
Questions
Is data encrypted at rest and who holds the key?
From 1 comment
The "How does Passbox work?" isn't clear to me. Is it encrypted at rest? Who has the password (or passwords), and is it just one secret key to unlock everything? Do my Trusted…
ken on HN
What happens to access if the payment card stops working after death?
From 2 comments
If a person dies and their payment card stops working, does the account get suspended for non-payment?
offmycloud on HNBut what happens when your credit cards are cancelled after you die? That's a Catch-22 right there.
exhilaration on HN
Alternatives named
LastPass Emergency Access
From 2 comments
A few comments: - I think the pricing structure is way too high. $60/year is quite a bit for what you are offering. At that price, I would rather rent a safety deposit box with a…
chadash on HNThis service (Passbox) seems to be equivalent to LastPass's "Emergency Access" feature. See:…
troymc on HN
Shamir's Secret Sharing
From 1 comment
Free alternative: use one of several tools that implement Shamir's Secret Sharing Scheme to split your master password into chunks. You can create a bunch of chunks and require…
teuobk on HN
Safety deposit box
From 2 comments
Serious question. Why wouldn't I just use a safety deposit box? Outside of the convenience of being electronic what benefit does this add over a physical storage space? The…
kemiller2002 on HNWhy not print all that data out and give it to someone you trust or keep it in a deposit box which can be legally passed to your family?
achikin on HN
key2lyf.com
From 1 comment
There's another on, key2lyf.com which is really similar. I love these kind of ideas.
wheelerwj on HN