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Not the first - we had one guy here a year or so ago got ransomed. He paid, they sent a key, which didn't work. He complains, they want more money ...
Take backups. Regularly. Remove the media from the PC when it's done, and don't use that one for the next backup.
If you get ransomware, reformat, and reload from backups. Do not pay anything - if people stop paying, they will stop ransoming. As long as some do, they will continue. It really is that simple!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Yes! And I know you include systems drive images in "backups".
I also keep critical data files backed up to DVDs, where they can never get encrypted.
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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Oh yes - it takes days to get all the apps installed and configured the way I like 'em!
Or an hour to restore a whole disk image. No contest! 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I keep all data on a separate, dedicated drive. My systems drive only has the system and all applications. This makes a systems drive image nice and tight - only filled to about 40 GB. Restoring an image for a drive filled to this capacity, takes me all of 12 minutes!
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
modified 23-Feb-17 18:01pm.
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But what happens when it hits and encrypts the OTHER drive.
Your system may be clean, but your data might be toast.
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I keep my data on a separate drive installed in the machine. I work on the assumption that the internal drive will be encrypted and will have to be reformatted in case of an attack. I therefore keep all data fully backed up to two external air-gapped drives. Air-gapped: I mean these drives are not normally switched on, or connected to the network or machine. They are never connected at the same time - in fact they are not even connected on the same day! In addition I will from time to time backup really important files to DVDs.
Yes, I know I am paranoid about my little system's security, but believe me, this paranoia has saved my bacon on more than one occasion in the past.
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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This sounds like YOU or someone you know was hit.
And you kinda have first hand experience with the devastation.
If you don't Kudos to you.
I have my online backups accessible with a password ONLY configured in the backup software.
Then that is backed up through that device, creating the gap.
But even with that, I have been thinking about, and started setting up a temporary connecting for the imaging process.
Also, every time I upgrade HDs, I keep my old one as a spare FALLBACK. For a quick reboot and restore.
Cheers!
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I apologize for mentioning one of my own articles here on CP, but you may find what I wrote about Surviving the Ransom Virus interesting.
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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Ditto. I've had people laugh at me for burning backups to DVD, but once burned the files are safe from software attacks.
As others have mentioned, multiple backups are key. I do quick backups onto flash drives -- yeah, they are volatile and less safe, but it works as a short term backup. They're cheap, use a bunch and rotate them. And store them securely!
For longer term I have a stack of old 500 GB and 1 TB hard drives, plus a cable set (power + data) that enables me to connect them to a PC like a clunky flash drive. It's not fast, but it's stable for long term storage. I've seen enclosures that allow hot swapping of SATA drives ... thinking about getting one, especially if it's USB 3.1.
My level of paranoia is laughable ... until something adverse happens. 
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OriginalGriff wrote: Do not pay anything - if people stop paying, they will stop ransoming. As long as some do, they will continue. It really is that simple!
It's pretty hard to convince people of that when some police departments have already done so.
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Huh. If I was the recipient of a ransomware attack, I'd power off the machine, wipe the drive, and restore from backup.
I can't believe anyone would ever pay for such a thing.
Software Zen: delete this;
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It astonishes me how many tech savvy people do not keep backups on air-gapped media. 
Get me coffee and no one gets hurt!
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Hopefully it gets encrypted using SHA1 
modified 19-Nov-18 21:01pm.
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If a lycanthrope was not paying attention, would he be an unawarewolf?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Howl long can you keep doing this?
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Dunno - I might run out of energy, but I feel all right nowooooooo!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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 Is the Moon full in Wales tonight?
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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Looks like things are starting to get hairy!
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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Only on nights when the moon is full; otherwise it would be either daydreaming or caught napping.
If you have an important point to make, don't try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time - a tremendous whack.
--Winston Churchill
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Would a Geordie lycanthrope be a tynanwearwolf?
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Fangs for that.
We're philosophical about power outages here. A.C. come, A.C. go.
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If I were a wolf, I canthope to write properly.
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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When I read that thought I had to paws and consider howl ever canine come up with something.
| Ravings en masse^ |
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| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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