They contracted a virus...
They contracted a virus...
Crypto threat. They aim to force you onto TOR and demand large sums—possibly in bitcoin—through some method. Without any assurance you’ll lose what you have. Share backup tips with your parents, wipe the drives thoroughly, and begin anew. Reach out to banks, businesses, etc., informing them of the incident so they stay vigilant against attempts to steal funds.
Have all their backups become damaged? If you believe your mom understood the situation when she received it, could you access an earlier backup? Or are all files now lost?