Dead Man's Switch for Critical Human Workflows
Staged escalation with encrypted payloads ensures critical credentials and instructions reach designated contacts if you become unreachable.
Human Presence Verification for Critical Access
Ensure critical information reaches designated contacts if you become unreachable. Staged escalation with encrypted payloads.
Production Credentials
3 recipients -- 7-day check-in interval
Next check-in due
Apr 18, 2026
Emergency Recovery Keys
2 recipients -- 14-day check-in interval
Check-in overdue
Stage 1: Reminder sent
Continuity When It Matters Most
A dead man's switch monitors your presence and delivers encrypted payloads to trusted contacts if you stop responding.
Encrypted Payloads
Each recipient gets a SecureShare link with end-to-end encrypted content. Encryption happens in your browser -- Metric Tower never sees the plaintext. Payloads are only delivered when the switch triggers.
3-Stage Escalation
Stage 1 sends a reminder email to you. Stage 2 sends a warning via email and SMS/Slack. Stage 3 is terminal -- encrypted payloads are delivered to all recipients. Configurable timing at each stage.
Hybrid Check-In
Passive detection tracks your web activity automatically. Active check-in requires password re-entry (plus optional MFA). Passive resets the timer silently; active is required during escalation.
Every Safety Net You Need
Snooze Support
Escalation emails include a signed snooze link. If you are traveling or temporarily unreachable, snooze the switch to delay delivery. Each escalation cycle allows up to 2 snoozes before the final stage proceeds.
Guardian Support
Designate a trusted team member as a guardian who can vouch that you are alive but unreachable. The guardian can delay delivery without accessing payloads -- they only confirm your status. Up to 2 vouches per escalation cycle.
Zero-Knowledge Encryption
Payloads are encrypted with AES-GCM in your browser using the WebCrypto API. The encryption key is embedded in the SecureShare URL fragment (after the #), which is never sent to the server. Metric Tower stores only ciphertext -- it cannot read your payloads.
Full Audit Trail
Every event is logged -- check-ins, escalation transitions, snooze actions, guardian vouches, and payload deliveries. The activity log on the detail page provides a complete timeline for each switch.
Once It's Armed, It Stays Armed
Your Dead Man's Switch fires whether or not you have an active subscription. Cancel, pause, or let your plan lapse — every switch you have already created continues to run on the original schedule, with the original recipients, for as long as your Metric Tower account remains in good standing.
The whole point of a Dead Man's Switch is that it works when you can't renew. Metric Tower treats that as a feature, not a bug.
Pay Once
Create your switch on any paid plan. That first commitment is all it takes.
Cancel Anytime
Downgrade, let your card expire, or stop paying entirely. Your switch keeps running.
Fires Forever
Check-ins, escalation, and payload delivery work the same on any tier — even Free.
Only creating new switches requires a paid plan. Existing switches are honored for the life of your team on Metric Tower.
Subject to Metric Tower continuing to operate.
How the Dead Man's Switch Works
Normal Operation
Your web activity is tracked passively. As long as you are active within the check-in interval, the timer resets silently. No action required from you.
Reminder
If the check-in deadline passes, a reminder email is sent to you. Check in actively (password + optional MFA) or snooze via the email link.
Warning
If still no check-in, warning notifications are sent via email and SMS/Slack. Your guardian (if assigned) is notified and can vouch for you.
Triggered
Terminal state. Encrypted SecureShare payloads are delivered to all designated recipients. The switch cannot be re-armed without creating a new one.
Secure Continuity Planning
Ensure critical credentials and recovery information reach trusted contacts if you become unreachable. Zero-knowledge encryption, staged escalation with snooze and guardian support, and a complete audit trail.