So, for those of you who weren't there for my emergency Twittering-in-lieu-of-anything-else, the FBI story, as I have told it elsewhere:
"Unbelievably, or at least I’m still having trouble believing it, yesterday [the 27th June, so a few days ago now] my wife and I were raided by the FBI.
(1/n)
"Fortunately, we’re both still alive and well, if shaken up and thoroughly terrorized, as are our dogs. Our house, however, is a wreck, and they have taken essentially everything electronic that we had. Computers, phones, everything.
"Why? As it was explained to me, the username which I have been using on Twitter, and everywhere else on the Internet (“cerebrate”, and variants) for over 20 years has also been used by the person responsible for the Redeemer ransomware.
(2/n)
"Since I have no access to most of my accounts, I would appreciate it if those of you reading this could pass this message along to other readers and to anyone else who knows me or might be interested in the situation.
"For the moment, I can be reached at the gmail address post.cyber.apocalypse@gmail.com, and a friend has set up a GoFundMe for recovery and legal costs at:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-amy-and-alistair-after-a-mistaken-fbi-raid
"Thank you all very much for your kindness.
(4/n)
At the moment, we've got at least some of our accounts back and are trying to regain access to our cloud backups, and have started the long slow process of returning our home to habitability.
More news when we have it.
(5/n=5)
@cerebrate only just saw this, bloody hell. I remember the conversation where you acquired that nick, IIRC I helped suggest it. This sucks, I am so sorry.
Huh. I'd forgotten that, but now...
Anyway. Thanks very much, for the sympathies and the contribution both. They're very much appreciated by both of us.
@cerebrate You're welcome. It's not right and I'm utterly furious on your behalf.
"This, obviously, is a disaster for us, and I would like to beg your forgiveness, as this will obviously mean a lack of new content for a while. (Among the things they took were all my writing and worldbuilding notes, not to mention anything to write on, and it is doubtful whether I will ever see any of them again.)
(3/n)