Backing-Up Your Data vs. Backing-Up Your PC

In my computer security classes, I tease my students that “Backups are good; restores are better.” The unfortunate fact of life is that computer hardware wears out and stops working. Software has bugs. Unfortunately, systems sometimes become infested with malware — so-called malicious software. A particularly ugly kind of attack, such as CryptoLocker, is called “Ransomware.” As Cybersecurity professionals, we call it crypto-viral extortion when a malware attack encrypts a user’s files and then demands payment to retrieve the key to restore the data.

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The Scourge of Ransomware in 2014

The landscape of malware has been forever changed: in 2013, we witnessed the rise of ransomware. It feeds on people’s lack of security, lack of backup, and fear of loss—a perfect storm of malicious intent. The “success” of CryptoLocker ransomware means 2014 is sure to bring a plethora of copycat ransomware to bear against us. So, what can we do to protect our data?

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