Bounce back after hack ep1. Former Apple employee, former Google…
Tags: Money, Hacking, Independence, Blog

Former Apple employee, former Google Workspace technician, three days before Christmas day, I have been ironically hacked. Almost all my money vanished while I was making a regular online transaction. While typing this story, on December 25th, I still feel sad and frustrated. That remains too fresh, and it happened during a traditional festive period. From now on, what is important is ahead. How to bounce back? I hope this logbook will answer the question. Get on board.

First, I must start by dropping a disclaimer. By telling you the following story, I am not appealing your compassion, kindness or anything like that although I am sure you all are emphatic. My situation is fine, frustrating but not desperate whatsoever. I am only setting a context for what is going next.

A little about my current situation and the consequences of this unfortunate loss. At this point, it is not reversible. The money got stolen from me and won’t be returned. That’s it and all. Besides that, I am 30 years old, made my way back to my parent’s place at the beginning of the year after 15 months wandering through New Zealand. My goal life was not to stay here for ages (and it is still not!) so a few weeks before my return trip I stopped over Thailand for getting a clear picture of my desire and plans. I landed in France 24 hours before the French government decided to confine the people due to the COVID-19 pandemic spreading out across the country.

It did not prevent me to look for a job but it probably did not help to find one. I mostly applied to companies based in Ireland, where I lived before my travel, and the UK. Unfortunately, I quickly figured out that it won’t be a piece of cake. While time was going by, I realized that I kept applying for jobs I did not really want to do. They could allow me to make money and get a full independence but none of them give a clear vision of the future and long-term stable situation. Therefore, I have decided to study online in order to be graduate. At 30, yes. I started off the courses mid-november. So far, I don't regret at all.

The money I get from the government as a student is not much but being independent was still an objective. Before resuming my study, I had done odd jobs to save up as much money as I can because I am not allowed to work as student paid by the government. Living with my low monthly wage in France is not worth considering. My plan was simple then : spending the end of the year with family and friends and getting settle aboard early 2021 (as soon as the pandemic is over, to be practical), in a country where the cost of life is lower.

On 22nd December 2020 at 2PM, my plans had not changed. A hour and a hacked bank account later, things as to be reconsidered.

You understood that I am not talking about “bouncing back” financially only. Unfortunately, our general independence is in close correlation with our financial independence.

How to bounce back? Well, it is way too early to give a straight and definitive answer by all means. The situation is still confused. However, for some reasons, I love being in that kind of tight spot. Starting or starting again something from zero, from the ground. From €0.7 in this case. I see a rare opportunity we have got through our life to reborn and the main reason why you should follow me in this journey.

In order to not make everything worst, a few service subscriptions I use must be cancelled. Also, objectives need to be set. We will deal with that in the next episode.

G.