Every course we offer through Prison Professors has one central purpose: to help people prepare for success. That preparation begins with developing stronger communication skills, critical thinking skills, and business skills. Those skills can open opportunities for independence, employment, entrepreneurship, and multiple income streams after release.
In this era of the digital economy, people can build income in ways that did not exist when I began serving my sentence. A person with discipline, access to information, and a commitment to learning can study markets, build online businesses, create digital products, develop professional networks, and learn how to invest.
Those opportunities are real.
So are the risks.
Since I devote my time to running a nonprofit that does not generate revenue for me, I earn my living through the digital economy. I use the same skills that I began developing while serving 26 years in prison: reading, writing, critical thinking, problem solving, and business judgment. I look for opportunities to profit from speculative trades and from long-term investments in publicly traded companies. I also invest in Bitcoin.
That strategy requires me to maintain relationships with several financial institutions. Some accounts allow me to trade stocks. Some allow me to buy or sell crypto. Some connect to U.S. dollar accounts. Each relationship leaves a footprint on the internet. And whenever a person has a footprint online, vulnerabilities exist.
This week, I learned another lesson about those vulnerabilities.
On Tuesday morning, May 26, 2026, I woke early and saw that something was wrong. Hackers had gained a level of control over one of my accounts. They began making trades and initiating transfers without my knowledge or permission.
Because I monitor my accounts several times each day, I caught the problem within about 90 minutes of the unauthorized activity beginning. I immediately changed passwords. I contacted the financial institution and reported that someone had hacked my account and was conducting unauthorized transactions.
Then I began the long process of working with the institution to reverse the fraudulent activity and restore control over the account. Over the next two days, I spent several hours providing information, following instructions, and documenting what happened. At this point, I have done everything within my control. Now I must allow the process to work itself out. I expect the institution to reverse the fraudulent transactions, but until the review concludes, I must wait.
That experience reminded me of an important lesson: earning income in the digital economy is only one part of the responsibility. Protecting those resources is equally important.
I already use strong, random passwords for my accounts. I do not use simple passwords, and I do not use the same password across all platforms. Still, this experience showed me that I need to improve my own systems. Going forward, I will change passwords more frequently. I will continue reviewing accounts every day. I will look more closely at security settings, two-factor authentication, withdrawal permissions, and alerts.
Members of our community should learn from this experience. If we encourage people to prepare for success in the digital economy, we also have a responsibility to teach the importance of cybersecurity. People should learn how to protect bank accounts, email accounts, investment accounts, crypto wallets, business accounts, and personal information.
A person may work hard to build income. But if that person does not understand security, someone else may try to steal what he or she built.
Preparation requires more than ambition. It requires systems.
A person who wants to succeed in the digital economy should consider practical safeguards:
Use strong, random passwords for every account.
Avoid using the same password on multiple platforms.
Use a secure password manager.
Turn on two-factor authentication whenever possible.
Review financial accounts frequently.
Set alerts for logins, trades, withdrawals, and transfers.
Keep recovery email addresses and phone numbers current.
Be cautious with links, downloads, and messages that ask for personal information.
Learn the difference between a legitimate platform and a phishing attempt.
Create a written policy for how to respond if something goes wrong.
Those steps do not eliminate all risk. But they reduce exposure. They also help a person respond quickly if a problem appears.
The digital economy can create freedom. It can help a person build income, invest, communicate, and participate in markets that operate around the world. But freedom always requires responsibility. The more we rely on digital tools, the more we must learn how to protect ourselves.
That lesson applies to everyone in our community.
While in prison, a person may not have access to the internet. But a person can still prepare. He can read about cybersecurity. She can study financial literacy. He can develop stronger writing and critical thinking skills. She can learn how businesses operate. A person can begin building the habits that will lead to better decisions after release.
Success does not come from one decision. It comes from a series of disciplined decisions made over time.
This week’s experience reminded me that I must continue learning, continue adjusting, and continue improving my systems. I encourage every member of our community to do the same.
Self-Directed Questions
What skills do I need to develop now so I can participate in the digital economy after release?
How can stronger communication skills help me create income or build professional relationships?
What risks come with online banking, investing, crypto, email, and digital business activity?
What steps can I take to learn more about cybersecurity while I am still preparing for release?
Why is it important to use different passwords for different accounts?
How would I respond if someone gained unauthorized access to one of my financial accounts?
What written policy could I create to protect my future income, savings, and investments?
How can I use my profile, journals, book reports, and release plan to show that I am preparing for success in the digital economy?
What books, courses, or mentors can help me learn more about financial literacy and cybersecurity?
What action can I take today to become more responsible with technology, money, and opportunity?