So, I have some very important files, including bitcoin-wallets, that are
heavily encrypted and copied to several CDs.
The CDs are stored in different places, even in different countries.
I am sure that the files are safe. Only I can decrypt the content on the CDs.
But I also would like selected persons to get access to those files after my death or
in case I am permanently unable to take care of myself.
What kind of options do I have? How others have solved this problem?
Thank you.
-Ikijaro
A Notary eventually could solve it but non-digitally.
This problem is still not solved purely digitally in a secure and decentralized way.
But here you can give an order to send the encryption key to some addresses on a defined date and the CD copies you distribute in advance:
http://www.deadmansswitch.net/ They are other services like this also. Some email providers offer also to send time shifted messages - so you can send it 1/2 year in advance and if you are still living then you shift the sending date in the future.
But you cannot be sure if your data will not be held back after your death or will be not released before.
To mitigate this 2 problems the encryption key could be divided in more pieces with Shamir's Secret Sharing method and distributed among more servers with a failure redundancy.
For ex. by 8/10 division if 8 pieces come together the secret could be revealed.
Eventually Namecoin could implement such a distributed solution.