They kept their machines patched up.
As to backup, YOUR CHOICE how. There is no right or truly wrong way. Just be sure you have copies of what you can't lose on media that is not always on or connected to the PC.
All of the comments on the Ransomware attacks appear to suggest two primary defences.
1. Ensure your updates are in fact up to date.
2. Ensure that you have a back up.
It was only when I gave some thought to this matter of "Back Ups" that I thought just what do we mean by that term because although one may have a regular back up built into your software and even have an external Back Up device such as Seagate surely all of those get captured by invasive Ransomware so what should one do?

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