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Question

What is meant by, "Backing up?"

May 24, 2017 4:14AM PDT

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?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
No one I know got hit with WannaCry. Why?
May 24, 2017 6:43AM PDT

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.

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Answer
Backup
May 24, 2017 6:45AM PDT

You are correct that if you get a bug and your backup device is connected it might be toast.

My backup devices are 'never' connected with windows active.

I boot up a copy of linux to make or restore a backup.
http://www.backup-utility.com/download-iso.html

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Two backing up devices!
May 25, 2017 3:30AM PDT

I currently have a small 1T Seagate device but recognising that if I get hit by Ransomware that will get toasted I thought I need to take that out every so often replacing it with another backing up device to ensure continuity and I found a Western Digital device in my box of "might come in useful one day gadgets.
If it makes sense to do as I suggest how do I set up the two devices?

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Re:setup devices
May 25, 2017 3:46AM PDT

I never "set up" an external hard disk. I just plug it in and use it.

But your backup program might need it to be done? Then please tell more, such a why you think setting up a second disk is different from setting up the first.

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Re:setup devices
May 25, 2017 3:52AM PDT

I think that setting up the second device might be difficult because I have a poor memory for such things and can't remember how I set up either the latest, a Seagate or an older one, the WD. On top of that the Seagate device just plugs into the computer with a USB and the WD device has to be plugged into a power plug view a transformer with an additional USB plug.

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Re: setup
May 26, 2017 1:25AM PDT

- Plug into power
- Plug into USB
- Switch on

That should be all.

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Backup
May 25, 2017 4:14AM PDT

My method, there are other methods.
I have two spare ssd's, which I alternate and use for backups.
Every 15 days I boot up my linux cd then connect one of the ssd's and make a clone.
About 3 mins for 25GB.
It works the same for a restore.

I never have one of those ssd's connected with windows active.