When Backups Might Not Save You From a Disaster

Chief Problem Solver from Your Computer Guy

If you care about the data on your computer, you must back it up – no exceptions! However, backups may not always save you from a disaster… Almost every month, there is yet another story about a business or organization getting all their data encrypted and then having to decide whether they will pay ransom to get it back or not…
Ransomware is known for encrypting your data and holding it hostage. It turns out that it can do more that backups won’t protect against. While backups can certainly avert data loss during a ransomware attack, the most recent tactics cybercriminals use are even more sinister.


Like viruses, ransomware is evolving. Crooks know that if you have good backups, you are much less likely to pay their ransom to get your data back. Some ransomware goes as far as publicly exposing your data unless the ransom is paid. The recent story involving Waikato DHB demonstrates that.