The Locked Out bc Malware Era
Discover more from Raz’s Substack
I downloaded malware last week.
Someone came into my DMs asking for a lil commissión, and I have been strapped for cash. I still dont understand how credit cards work (boooo tomato tomato) and all the built up debt fell on me in a day. Towers moment. So i’ve been planning a lil physical stamps drop on my website, and j been on the lookout for finances. And a DM came in at the perfect time.
They asked for my rates, and they agreed to what I asked for. I said I’ll send them a contract and they said they already had one. They sent me their website, which I excitedly opened. On their website, I downloaded a link to their contract. It had a zip file with music, reference pics, and a lil pdf. I opened the pdf, and then it didn’t open. So i spent 30 mins trying to open it regardless of the “suspicious files”, according to my mac. And then, my twitter logged itself out on my phone. And twitter went down.
I don’t take responsibility but it did start at the same time lmao if I did that shit thats kinda slay
After an hour while I was waiting for twitter to get back online, I try and log in. The password didnt work. I try and change the password, thinking it was a silly little elon playing a silly little ddos attack. But as I went to change it, it required an email that wasnt mine. And I shat myself (mentally).
I filed a report, and waited. I texted a few artists i knew, and sent some dms on insta to let them know ima b on hiatus and if the account starts doing anything weird to j report the shit out of it. And I waited. The next day, I get an email. Twitter said no sry babes go outside xoxo. and i said ummm no? So I sent another report, but using another email as my reference.
And after another day of waiting, I got the email. I got it back.
yayyyy ahhhh slayyyy yessss wooooooooo ahhhhhh
It was rly annoying. I was working on this account for 3 years so I was a bit irked fr. But i didn’t feel like I lost much. I wanted to lose screen time (its been approaching like 9hrs a day). I kinda hate using twitter rn since it feels like im just tweeting art into a void, and its been rly tough growing the account recently. and theres always a hope that I get a dm for a sale or something important happens (or drama lmfao). And the daily attention it needs feels hollow sometimes.. I was a bit excited for a reset, but I am not upset at all for getting the account back. Its where I built my strongest relationships, and its been a great place for connecting w new ppl.
But I wasnt as stressed as I thought I would be. I think its cuz I’ve met these artists irl, so I knew that I wouldn’t rly start from scratch. Actually connecting with people rly saved my stress level and the remainder of my hairline (its act coming back since ive left utah lmfao). I love a good reset too fr. But building these connections have rly saved me. Im ok with leaving social media for a bit cuz I know they wont forget me (right o.o?). I wish yall a good morning even if I dont say it. Knowing people and connecting w peers grants more security than a 2 factor authentication (which I had, but the malware went thru smh (probs why the account wasn’t accessed tho)).
So send that dm! chat w ppl, for ur and ur security, and everything else involved! it can be learning about a person, their art, or just anything rly. it does make social media feel like a group effort, and those wins for a friend turn into wins for u! And dont open someone elses pdfs that ur computer says is not a pdf!
ofc, stay safe online and listen to ur laptops
much love,
faraz
p.s. I wanna do a physical stamps sale. This lil break has kinda told me to diversify how I make money, and NFTs dont rly work on instagram. But I can get these stamps out, and even some older woodworks. soon :) very soon:))
p.ss. I rly liked not being on twitter lmaooo its been such a freeing thing. I got logged out on wedndesday, and stayed off until monday. its a necessary evil rn, but I do feel better w less digital access.
p.sss. also - follow the same ppl on different social medias. the more the merrier. No idea why, but none of my other accounts got hacked. ig, tiktok, crypto wallets, and substack( :) ). but since I followed a lot of the same ppl on several accounts, its been a lot easier to spread the word abt whats goin on. v helpful life tip.
omg im using my website instead of a linktree woahhh razdoesart.com