They contracted a virus...
They contracted a virus...
Hello, Your parents experienced a severe virus that locked all their files, even the backups. They sent the computer to local stores but told you they couldn’t access the data without paying a ransom. A week later, your dad found something in his photo folder. Should you obey the instructions or risk further loss? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, David.
It's similar to dealing with terrorists—it's always not a good idea.
Do you really have anything crucial there? I wouldn’t pay unless I had something really significant on that hard drive. Edit : By important I mean a thesis or an essential work file. Edit 2 : There’s still a possibility they won’t provide the files, anyone knows a method to decrypt them? Even then, it would likely take weeks or months.
I don't talk to extremists, but I'd destroy the hard drive and start over.
Make sure any valuable items are paid for first, as that’s the most practical approach to recovering them. For future attempts, avoid loading backups unless absolutely needed.
I understand completely. Such a massive virus can really disrupt people's daily lives. My parents are quite upset about it.