Back up your files Back up files regularly – including documents, photos and videos. The best option is to back up to an external Hard Drive. This can be done on a daily basis keeping your backup recent and relevant.  It is also a good idea to back up to the cloud. Having two backup sources ensures that you are even less likely to lose your data if something goes wrong.   Use anti-virus software Make sure you have Anti-Virus software installed and that it has the latest updates. You should run your antivirus scans on a regular basis.   Install windows updates regularly Ensure you have the latest windows updates. Windows is constantly putting out new updates to protect the user from malicious attack and these updates are critical in keeping you safe.   Protect yourself from dangerous emails and apps Be wary of emails from senders you do not recognise. Never click on the links or the attachments.  Also, don’t install third party apps that are not sourced from an official online representative.   Do not pay the ransom Never pay the ransom. In the latest incident, petya, the originator of the ransomware was using one email address which the ISP in turn blocked. Then there was no way of communicating with the attacker. But neither could the attacker communicate with the victim raising a major question over whether the data could be unencrypted at all.     If you think you are under attack or have been infected, turn off your computer immediately, and do not turn it on again, contact me as soon as possible.