Computer users face hard choice _ pay ransom or lose files

Posted by $ nickursis 11 years, 2 months ago to Technology
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Something to think about: Back up your entire machine on a separate hard drive that is DISCONNECTED from the computer. That way you can tell them to f off. Of course, no one is actually being successful at chasing these guys, they are fast and nimble and a 300lb gorrilla just can't compete.

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  • Posted by $ nickursis 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    AH, my fear of Linux is irrational and based on ignorance and sloth. Hence my addiction to the mighty Gates. Not that I want to, but I am hardware oriented, and my experiences with software a rarely painless.
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  • Posted by Lucky 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Linux of course.
    Most varieties, distributions, of Linux and Unix are comparatively very safe due to the logical consistency of design.
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  • Posted by Lucky 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes to your point about social engineering- a part of elementary training should enable users to be a little cautious and questioning before obeying instructions.
    The variant of the operating system I use has an upgrade procedure that is hard to misinterpret even by the rawest novice. Upgrades are available at a rate of about 10 to 20 per week.
    It would need very smart hacking to break into.
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  • Posted by $ nickursis 11 years, 2 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Hard to do #2, other OS's are starting to see similar issues, and it is not always an OS threat, it is usually happening thru a social engineering site, that presents a seemingly safe web page that tells you "Your XXX needs an update" and that allows them in the door. Very hard for a basic user to tell the difference.
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  • Posted by Lucky 11 years, 2 months ago
    Two things to do for prevention:
    1. Back up systems, procedures, isolation
    2. Strip out the popular operating system that is amateurish and fundamentally insecure.
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