The importance of backing up before disaster strikes

Backing up has become more important than ever, thanks to ransomware.
If you are a regular reader here you already know how pervasive and frustrating ransomware is. If you're new to the scene, here is a bit of background - Ransomware is the hottest new attack method in the malware world. It can be pulled off with alarming ease as all a hacker has to do is buy some premade ransomware kit from malware creators on the dark web. Then he or she distributes the rotten code, usually by way of email attachments, but as we have explained earlier, ransomware can also get onto systems via holes, or vulnerabilities in outdated software. When the ransomware code is executed by say, clicking that infected link in an email, it begins to encrypt all the files on your computer or device. That’s when you’ll get a notice from the ransomware creators, letting you know that your files have been encrypted and if you want to retrieve them you’ll need to pay them about 1-2 bitcoins or $400-800.

Now with all your files encrypted, you are left with a choice - do you pay up or stand your ground? Here at ZoneAlarm, we are all for standing your ground, but the sad truth is that it won't get your files back because once they have been encrypted, they can only be unencrypted with the correlating key - which the hackers have and aren't about to give to you.

If you have been diligent in backing up your files, data, pictures and whatever else you have that’s precious to you, then you can stand your ground and walk away. Make multiple backups Before we delve into the different backup methods out there, it’s important to note that you should have more than one backup of your files stored in different places to ensure that you are really covered.

Types of backup

Cloud-based backup - You are probably familiar with cloud storage like Google Drive and DropBox. The idea here is that your files are stored in the Google or DropBox cloud respectively and you can access them from anywhere that you can log into your account. These services are great for sharing pictures and collaborating on documents and presentations but they aren't really designed for heavy duty, let alone automatic backup. Instead, look for a cloud based backup that automatically backs up all your files and folders. Some important features to watch out for:

• • Unlimited storage.
• • Folder syncing and sharing.
• • Continuous backup throughout the day automatically.
• • Available for smartphone.
• • Price tag factor - some plans run at about $60 per license per year and others can run over $120 per year. ZoneAlarm users get 1TB for Only $29.75 /First year.
• • Security is always on our minds here at ZoneAlarm and thankfully almost all the big plans use varying high degrees of encryption to protect the data in their keep.

Find the one that fits your needs best and go with it! Some of the best plans out there are: Crashplan, Backblaze, Spideroak and iDrive.

We go with iDrive PCMag Editor’s choice for 2016:
“It has been one of the more ambitious online backup and cloud-based syncing service services in recent years, offering not only some of the most attractive pricing plans, but also a multitude of features in clear desktop, mobile, and Web applications.”

Local backup - Your other option is to back up to an external hard drive or a flash drive. This method is a bit less user-friendly as it cannot be done automatically and since flash drives are so small, they tend to get lost easily. But it’s not a bad idea to have a physical backup of your digital stuff.

When it comes to ransomware, follow our mantra “Backup, don’t pay up”.