Originally Posted By: Lawrie

My advice is TURN OFF preview - yes, I know it's inconvenient but it's a lot less inconvenient than losing your data, or worse, having it encrypted and an extortion notice to decrypt - how bad is it knowing your data is there but you can't get it because some mongrel has encrypted it.



That is where a backup comes into play.

Backup your data on a -- at least -- weekly basis. Depending on your workload, even a daily backup could save you a lot of time.

Save incremental, that is only what has been changed.

Use a backup software that does not encrypt the file, so you have "instant" access without using other software. Some is free, other comes with the harddrive.

Have a copy on an external and separate harddrive or original CDs and DVDs of your purchased software. If they are custom burned, that is they are not mechanically pressed, copy them onto a harddrive. Burnt CDs and DVDs are often subject to erase themselves.

Make a return to factory setup installation routine. Many "pots" PCs and Laptops include a data set on a partition of the internal hard drive. You can and should copy that onto another hard drive.

If your backup hard drive is full, buy a new one and put the old one in storage for a year or two.

If your PC is entrypted, install a new hard drive and restore your system from scratch. It'll take day or two, but it is still the fastest and cheapest way to really restore a system without a trace of infection.



Btw: pots is an acronym for "products of the shelf".

Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build