If you happen upon a USB device while out in public, such as a flash drive, do not take it home and plug it into your computer. There’s no telling what could be on the device, such as malware or ransomware. In some cases, scammers will leave USB devices in places so that they’re found […]

Macros are powerful, useful commands in Microsoft Word and Excel. Nevertheless, they can also be used to distribute ransomware. Consider restricting them from within the applications if you regularly receive a lot of documents and spreadsheets and aren’t certain of their safety.

Ransomware encrypts your files and demands payment for their decryption. It can start with a malicious link or attachment targeting vulnerability in outdated software. Be sure not to click these items if you don’t recognize them and/or if they were flagged by your security software. Also, the FBI says you should never give in and […]

Paying the ransom does not guarantee you will get your files back, so it could be a waste of money. That money could then go towards illegal activities and encourage cybercriminals to continue targeting people. Instead of paying the ransom, report the incident to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), who will investigate the […]

While local backups are generally safe, sometimes, malware or ransomware can spread to the backed up files. Additionally, a USB drive or external hard drive could get lost or destroyed, taking all of your files with it. A cloud-based backup solution is an internet service that stores all of your files online, Total Defense internet […]

Should you store your data on a hard drive or in the cloud?