Ransomware and the 3-2-1 backup rule
Big idea: one copy of something important is really no copy at all.
The story in short
Ranjan uncle opened an email attachment called Electricity_Bill_Society_Due.pdf in a hurry. The next morning his laptop showed a message: his files were locked and he must pay to get them back. But he wasn’t panicking. He had a copy on an external hard drive from last month, and his old handwritten society diary. Nilu chachu wiped and reinstalled the laptop and restored the files. Bunny and Riya made a “Back it up” poster for the noticeboard.
The idea
- Ransomware: software that locks or scrambles your files and demands payment.
- Disguised attachment: a file that looks like a bill or invoice but hides something harmful.
- Never pay a ransom: it doesn’t guarantee recovery and funds more attacks.
- 3-2-1 rule: three copies, on two kinds of storage, with one kept somewhere else.
- Offline backup: a copy not connected to the internet, even paper, can’t be locked remotely.
In real life
Hospitals, companies and even government offices have been hit by ransomware. At home, turn on automatic backups for your phone’s photos and important documents, and keep one copy offline.
Remember: Keeping more than one copy, in more than one place, turns a disaster into a minor inconvenience.
Check yourself
An email you weren't expecting has an attachment called "Bill_Due.pdf.exe". What should you do?
Your files are locked and a message demands money. Should you pay?
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Which counts as an offline backup?
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