You never think it’ll happen to you. Until it does.
A few years ago, I was living in a sunny, modern apartment in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Fast Wi-Fi, good vibes, and a beach five minutes away. It felt like the perfect digital nomad setup — until the day I came home and found my MacBook Pro gone.
The door wasn’t broken. No signs of forced entry. Just... gone.
I had left it sitting on the kitchen table while I stepped out for coffee.
I figured I’d be out for 45 minutes — what could happen?
😓 The Aftermath
Losing a $2,000+ laptop is painful.
But what hurt more was the data:
- Client project files
- Drafts for my blog
- Financial records
- Crypto wallet notes
- Photos I hadn’t backed up
Gone.
I felt exposed, helpless — and honestly, foolish. I thought I was “tech-savvy.” Turns out, I was only secure when I was at my desk, not when I was away from it.
🔐 What I Do Differently Now (And What You Should Too)
Whether you're in Playa del Carmen or Portugal, the principles are the same:
🧳 1. Store Tech in Your Luggage
Now I lock my gear in a hardshell suitcase every time I leave my apartment — even if it’s just for a quick grocery run.
- Laptop in locked luggage
- Passport in a hidden pouch
- Backup drives stored separately
Make it hard. Make it time-consuming. Most thieves are opportunists — if it takes more than 20 seconds, they’ll move on.
☁️ 2. Automate Your Backups
Trust me, you won’t remember to back up manually.
Here’s my setup:
- Backblaze for full-device backups
- Google Drive for docs and quick edits
- Cryptomator to encrypt sensitive folders
My files now sync every night while I sleep. Even if my laptop vanishes, my work doesn’t.
🎯 3. Enable Remote Wipe + Tracking
Before the theft, I had “Find My Mac” turned off to “save battery.”
That was dumb.
Now I use:
- Find My Device (macOS/Windows)
- Prey Project for cross-platform tracking
- HiddenApp for stealth screenshots and location pings
I keep these active 24/7. Privacy matters — but so does protection.
🎥 4. Install a Portable Camera System
This is a game-changer if you're staying long-term or working from Airbnb rentals.
I now travel with a couple of Wyze Cams:
- Compact, affordable, Wi-Fi-ready
- I place one facing the door, one facing my desk
- Motion alerts come straight to my phone
It’s like having a portable security guard in your bag.
📄 5. Create a “Digital Recovery Kit”
I didn’t have one. I do now.
It includes:
- Emergency contacts
- Crypto wallet seed phrases (stored securely)
- Authenticator backup codes
- Cloud login credentials
I store an encrypted version in the cloud and a printed version in a locked envelope inside my suitcase.
🚨 The Bigger Lesson
Living abroad as a remote worker comes with real risks. But it also forces you to become resilient, adaptable, and proactive.
The mistake I made in Playa wasn’t leaving my laptop out.
It was not having a system.
That’s what Remote Ready OS is all about — building a digital life that protects you when you’re offline, distracted, or halfway across the world.
Stay smart. Stay secure. And back it up.
– King Michael ✌️
