any idea where it came from ?

I am truly sorry for what you're experiencing, what a nightmare, but thanks for sharing.  I for one am heading out in the morning to grab another external HD as a backup.

Backups only save projects.
 
The time-consuming part is re-installing and re-registering all software.
 
Making regular ISOs after every install is also required.
 
If you pay, you finance the attack on the next victims.

jpetersen
Backups only save projects.
 
The time-consuming part is re-installing and re-registering all software.
 
Making regular ISOs after every install is also required.
 
If you pay, you finance the attack on the next victims.

i think when most people (at least i do) say 'back up' they mean making a disk image, so there is no time lost reinstalling etc, 15/20 minutes and you are up and running as if nothing happened.

The Grim

jpetersen
Backups only save projects.
 
The time-consuming part is re-installing and re-registering all software.
 
Making regular ISOs after every install is also required.
 
If you pay, you finance the attack on the next victims.

i think when most people (at least i do) say 'back up' they mean making a disk image, so there is no time lost reinstalling etc, 15/20 minutes and you are up and running as if nothing happened.

Sorry to hear of the trouble!  But back up images are as easy as a $50 external USB drive and the Macrium Reflect free image backup software. 
 
I would also advise, in addition to your current antivirus, that you also add an anti-exploit defense, such as that provided by Malwarebytes, or HitmanPro.Alert.  These have non-signature based, behavior detection algorithms that are designed to detect and intercept encryption type malware exploit methods.  They are designed to work side-by-side with your current AV programs.

The Grim

jpetersen
Backups only save projects.
 
The time-consuming part is re-installing and re-registering all software.
 
Making regular ISOs after every install is also required.
 
If you pay, you finance the attack on the next victims.

i think when most people (at least i do) say 'back up' they mean making a disk image, so there is no time lost reinstalling etc, 15/20 minutes and you are up and running as if nothing happened.

 
Yes, worst case is you may need to re-authorize some stuff.

Kaspersky makes some effort to help:   https://noransom.kaspersky.com

Hi:)
 
1. Daily Backup (Image) from C: (Win System), A: (My OneDrive Location), R: (My Record Partition)
2. Immediate Backup after Recording to an external USB Disc
3. Immediate Backup after Recording to --> A: --> OneDrive (Cloud)
4. Immediate Backup after Recording to a second internal disc, where the files from the last few years are saved.
5. Regularly Burning DVDs from the recordings
6. Regularly Burning a Blue Ray Disc, where the DVDs are on
 
1. Is made automatically
2. 3. 4. is done in seconds
Immediate means I don't know how often, 1 or 2 times an hour....
So not much work for having backups..
 
Bassman.
 
 

Im a bit reckless myself (sure some may even call me a fool) But I don't do disk images anymore.
I used to But it was useless for me as I have gone almost 10 years without a problem.
At one point I had 2 PC (DAW And a Surfer) with a mouse keyboard box (KVM Switch) but that got old.
Because sometimes I had focus problems when switching from PC number 1 to PC number 2.
 
So about 2 years ago I decided to only back up Projects only. I don't frequent unfamiliar sites, always have my Anti Virus up to date and just take caution. I am aware that not matter how safe you are there is always a risk.
However there are ways to decrease your chances of an attack.
-Don't open attachments you are not sure about.
-Don't click on links sent you in emails (unless you know exactly who they are) Some links, using prefixes and familiar name beginnings. Example: FaceBooks com. Attackers are getting smarter by the minute.
-Don't ever download something you are not sure about.

but it's not just virus, malware etc (i don't worry about them either, don't even run av's or anything, i believe mostly good computer habits is the main thing, only had one virus back in 1998, it's a non issue for me), you have hard drive failure etc, i would rather be back up and running in 15 minutes than still installing and setting up 2 weeks later
 
i don't have any problems either, but if and when the time comes that i do, i will be more than thankful for my backup images