#gpsfail

A Time When my GPS got Jammed by Hackers

Let me tell you, there is always a special kind of panic and terror when my GPS gets jammed by hackers.

During a road trip that summer, my family invited me to a friend’s wedding party at a seafood restaurant downtown. The plan was simple: drive a couple of hours to the destination and let the GPS guide me to where I needed to be. Everything was going to be normal until my GPS suddenly told me to “Exit right on Beach Blvd.”

Instead of heading to the left exit of “Beach Blvd”, it directs me to an unfamiliar area that appears to be a residential neighborhood with public markets. That was mistake number one when I obeyed without a clear thought in mind. I was expecting to see fairy lights across the streets, filled with affordable goods that are available to the public. However, I was driving past them as I saw hackers in the parking lot jamming my GPS. As a result, the hackers are threatening my life through corporate sabotage, nearly driving me to lose my patience in the process.

Then, I started to run away from the hackers as I sought a better solution to fix the GPS that was being jammed. Thankfully, I switched the GPS to a backup navigation system, such as an inertial navigation system, to assist me while I searched for a parking destination. I rechecked the address, and that’s when I knew I was heading in the right direction, 5 minutes from the destination at a seafood restaurant.

The fear and panic fade away as I escape from the hackers to arrive at a seafood restaurant- 20 minutes late, relieved, and sweaty. My story stole the spotlight as my family is thankful to see me for the rest of the night. You never know when an electronic device, such as a GPS, holds a personal resentment that you use often, whether in the dark or daylight.

The Time My GPS Sent Me to Nowhere 

Let me tell you about the day my GPS betrayed me in the scariest way possible. 

It all started when my best friend invited me to her birthday party at a new restaurant downtown. She sent me the address, and like any normal person, I plugged it into my GPS, trusting it to guide me. After all, technology never fails, right? Or so I thought. 

Everything seemed fine at first. The soothing robotic voice directed me through traffic, and I was feeling good - until I noticed the surroundings were getting sketchy. I was expecting a trendy restaurant with fairy lights and overpriced appetizers, but instead, I was driving past abandoned warehouses and empty parking lots. 

Still, I trusted the GPS. Maybe the restaurant was in some cool, hidden spot? Maybe it was one of those “exclusive” places that didn’t even look like a restaurant from the outside? I convinced myself I was fine. 

Then, my GPS proudly announced: 

“You have arrived at your destination.” 

I looked around. 

I was in the middle of nowhere. No restaurant. No people. Just an empty lot with a single, flickering street light that looked like the beginning of a horror movie. 

I checked the address again, and that’s when I realized: I had been sent to the completely wrong city. Not just the wrong street. Not just the wrong neighborhood. A whole different city - 30 minutes away from where I was supposed to be. 

Panic set in. My phone was on 5%, and I still had no idea where the actual restaurant was. I called my friend, and of course, my phone decided to die mid-call. At this point, I had two choices: Accept that technology had failed me and go home, or attempt to find my way using my horrible sense of direction. 

Long story short - I arrived at the party an hour late, sweaty, frustrated, and very close to throwing my GPS into the ocean. My friends laughed at me for the rest of the night, and I’m still convinced my GPS had a personal grudge against me that day. 

Moral of the story? Never trust technology blindly. And always, always double-check the address before leaving.