When Divorce Becomes a Cybersecurity Problem

What this episode covers

Divorce used to be about dividing assets. Today, it’s also about defending your digital life. Jonathan Steele—family attorney and founder of Steele Fortress—joins Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge to explain how cybersecurity, privacy, and digital hygiene now play a critical role in high-stakes divorce cases. From reused passwords to shared devices and cloud accounts, Jonathan outlines how everyday conveniences quietly turn into surveillance tools when relationships break down. In this conversation, Jonathan walks through real-world risks his clients face: spouses tracking location through AirTags, retaining access to Ring or Nest cameras after moving out, synced photos revealing daily activity, and phishing attacks that now use AI-written emails to appear legitimate. He explains why email accounts are a “treasure trove” of behavioral data—from shopping receipts to travel history—and why securing them early is essential. The episode also explores how social media posts impact custody decisions, why judges often exclude illegally obtained digital evidence, and how friction—like multi-factor authentication and secure file sharing are far cheaper than cleaning up a breach later. Jonathan reframes privacy not as secrecy, but as basic protection—no different than locking your front door or closing the blinds.

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