Divorce can affect nearly every part of your life, including parts many people do not immediately think about, like digital privacy. On the Herlihy Family Law Podcast, Mobile, Alabama family law attorney Alison Herlihy welcomed Tim Hasser of Hasser Enterprises to discuss the ways phones, online accounts, and smart home devices can create privacy risks during divorce. Their conversation highlighted an important reality: in today’s connected world, protecting your personal information should be one of the first steps you take when a marriage begins to break down.

Why Digital Privacy Matters in Divorce

Modern devices store an enormous amount of sensitive information. Phones, tablets, computers, email accounts, cloud storage, and smart home devices can reveal text messages, photos, location history, financial details, browsing history, and more. During a divorce, that information can become especially important.

This is not just about hiding wrongdoing. Privacy matters because everyone deserves to communicate with their attorney, make personal decisions, and manage day-to-day life without unnecessary monitoring. In some cases, privacy concerns can also involve personal safety, especially where there is a history of controlling behavior or domestic violence.

Common Digital Privacy Risks

One of the biggest risks is location sharing. Many spouses share locations through built-in tools such as Apple’s Find My or Google’s family-sharing features. What may have once been convenient can become a serious concern during divorce, especially if one spouse can see the other’s movements, routines, or visits to an attorney’s office.

Shared cloud accounts are another major issue. If spouses share an iCloud account, Google account, or email account, one person may be able to access synced text messages, photos, documents, search history, saved passwords, and even connected devices. Many people do not realize how much information is being backed up and shared automatically.

Social media can also create problems. Posts, photos, comments, messages, and location data can all become relevant. Even older content may resurface. Privacy settings that were once overlooked can suddenly matter a great deal.

Physical tracking devices are another concern. Bluetooth trackers and similar devices can sometimes be used to monitor someone’s location without their knowledge. In addition,

smartphones themselves may alert users to unknown trackers nearby, but only if those features are turned on.

Smart home technology adds yet another layer. Devices such as doorbell cameras, indoor cameras, voice assistants, smart locks, smart thermostats, and other Wi-Fi-enabled products may collect audio, video, and usage data. If those systems are shared or accessible to both spouses, one spouse may be able to monitor activity in or around the home.

Steps to Take Right Away

A good starting point is changing passwords. Email accounts should usually come first, because email is often the key to resetting passwords on other accounts. From there, update passwords for banking, social media, cloud storage, phone accounts, and other important services.

It is also important to enable multi-factor authentication wherever possible. This adds another layer of security and can help prevent unauthorized access even if someone knows or guesses a password.

Next, review your phone’s privacy and location settings. Turn off unnecessary location sharing and check app permissions carefully. It is often wise to disable location access broadly at first, then turn it back on only for apps that truly need it.

People should also scan for unknown trackers and enable tracker alerts on their devices. These features can help identify suspicious Bluetooth tracking devices that may be nearby.

If you share cloud services, email, or other accounts with your spouse, it may be time to create new individual accounts. Before making changes, however, it is important to think carefully about what data is stored there and how those changes could affect your case.

Social media should be handled cautiously. In many situations, the safest approach is to avoid posting altogether during the divorce. At a minimum, privacy settings should be reviewed, passwords should be changed, and access should be limited.

For smart home devices, check which users have access and review linked accounts. In some situations, removing users or resetting the device may be appropriate. Microphones and cameras should also be reviewed, and features that are not needed should be disabled.

Document Everything

One of the most practical steps a person can take is documenting suspicious activity. If you discover location sharing, tracker alerts, unexpected logins, or unauthorized account access, take screenshots before changing settings. Be sure the date and time are visible when possible.

The same goes for privacy changes you make yourself. Keeping records of before-and-after settings can be useful if questions later arise about access, monitoring, or how certain information was obtained.

When to Seek Professional Help

Sometimes simple steps are enough to improve privacy. In other cases, professional help may be necessary. If you believe you are still being tracked, monitored, or accessed after changing passwords and reviewing settings, it may be time to speak with a qualified professional.

An attorney can help you understand how privacy issues may affect your divorce case. In some situations, cybersecurity professionals, investigators, or law enforcement may also be able to help determine whether someone accessed information improperly or used unlawful tracking methods.

Final Thoughts

Digital privacy is easy to overlook at the start of a divorce, but it can have a major impact on your case and your peace of mind. Taking a proactive approach by securing devices, reviewing shared accounts, and limiting access to personal information can help protect both your privacy and your safety.

If you are going through a divorce and need guidance, contact Herlihy Family Law at https://herlihyfamilylaw.com/. To hear more helpful discussions on family law issues, visit the Herlihy Family Law Podcast at https://herlihyfamilylaw.com/podcast/. For professional cybersecurity support, learn more about Tim Hasser at https://hasserllc.com/.