New and even more randsome ware threat?

[PEV]

I have been listening to a radio report that a lad had his pc locked by the 'Cheshire Police' randsome ware scam with a demand to pay a £100 fine to get his machine unlocked.

As a result the lad also an autism sufferer hanged himself! There are no adequate words to describe the 'creatures' who did this I hope they get what's coming to them UTTER SCUM!

The report goes on to say this virus is now even being contracted on shopping and other general sites and not on ****o sights as used to more often be the case.

Is there any way to protect from this because as far as I can tell once it gets you there is no way out and the scammers do not/cannot unlock your PC even if you pay!

This is a nagging worry for me I almost feel paranoid about surfing the web!

Ray

[PEV]

Dont know why abreviated word for ****ography has been blocked on my post it's hardly obcene or improper text?

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

The word being blocked is due to the forum censor which is basically a generic thing for all types of forum. Doesn't matter as we know what you meant Ray. :D

 

As for protection against the ransom wares there is only one real way to be sure and that is to have and maintain full system backups.

The best being either a clone onto a spare hard drive, or an image kept on an external hard drive. If they are updated regularly then any losses from a locked up or encrypted system are minimal.

My own personal choice is a clone kept and updated regularly on a spare hard drive. Should anything go wrong which can be many different things such as discussed, finding everything encrypted or locked, a major corruption of the operating system, or even a mechanically or electronically failed hard drive.

All you need is a screwdriver to remove the bad hard drive and then insert the cloned hard drive and your back up and running in less than half an hour.

 

If interested in the cloning aspect, have a look here Ray :-

 

http://magazine.freepchelp.uk/making-a-cloned-hard-drive-using-macrium-reflect/

 

Nev.

[PEV]

Thanks Nev.

I have looked at the link describing how to clone my whole PC looks very interesting but I'm afraid to try in case I mess up.

But to confirm I would download the Macrium software to be able to make the clone? (I run Windows 8.1)

I have only had this machine and windows 8.1 for a few weeks and am really still finding my way.

I already have a spare hard drive which has my PC files backed up and the shop guy who sold /installed my new machine showed me how to back up but I haven't done any backing up since as I have forgotten already but do I remember you have to disconnect the external drive safely or could damage my machine. (Can you advise how to do this?)

Am I right it thinking backing up only does files where as cloning copies everything?

I must admit I am tempted to give cloning a try but just worry if I could mess my system up!

Ray

[Ray1000]

Hi Ray,

 

With regard to removing the external drive safely ... you are doing it to make sure you are not interrupting the transfer of files at the point you pull the USB plug out.

 

Practice a dozen times using a memory stick or similar.

 

Plug the USB memory stick in and wait for the AutoPlay box to arrive.

 

Click "Open folder to view files" ... and take note of the drive letter (G in my case ... view a file, perhaps a photo then close it down.

 

Close the next box down. (Computer ... Untitled G in my case)

 

Now you have two choices ...

 

1. Go to "Computer" and right click on the drive letter ... a "Safely Remove" or "Eject" option will appear. click this and you'll see the drive disappear from the list and know it is safe to detach the USB plug.

 

2. In the bottom right hand corner of the screen in the System Tray click the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon and follow the instructions for closing that particular drive letter.

 

Ray

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, Ray 1000 has it right Ray (Pev) It applies to all USB connected storage devices and is to prevent damage to data on both the storage drive and the computer. In the wrong circumstances I have seen the operating system badly damaged and the storage device ruined because the safe to remove procedure wasn't followed.

 

Sometimes you just might see the message come up that the device is in use and cannot be removed.

That may be because a program is still running that was using the data. Either find and close the program, or if that isn't possible, wait till finished for the day then shut the computer down and remove the device before booting up again.

 

As far as backups are concerned, you are correct as ordinary backups only save the data, a full clone saves everything including the operating system.

 

However, do not put a clone onto an ordinary external portable hard drive as they cannot be fitted inside the computer when required.

If all you have is an external portable drive, you need to put an image on to that to create a full re-installable backup.

 

A clone is a like for like copy which you put on a spare hard drive, (Not an external portable drive), whereas an image is a compressed and lightly encrypted copy requiring the software and rescue disk to install the image back to the computer. (An image is also complete with the operating system included).

 

Nev.