So I have a full, image-based encrypted backups of both of my computers on google drive, with incremental backups uploaded nightly. I pay out the nose for internet fast enough for this to happen, and it still takes forever. My computer could go up in a fire tonight and tomorrow a new one would be EXACTLY where my…

Of course they do. If the public gets wind that they don’t honor the bargain, no one will ever pay the ransom. That’s why Somali pirates don’t kill their hostages after getting payment.

The whole process is largely automated after the initial setup. All the criminals do is host the ransomware which usually distributes through emailed links and take the money out of the account. Practically everything else is automated. They don’t know who is infected and they don’t care. And they’ll always give the…

It’s a business, in its own right, and having people not trust your business is surprisingly bad for business. They can’t actually get any money without you giving it to them. Your information isn’t going to do much besides crash the world economy if everyone’s were released, which is also bad for criminals.

That’s going on the assumptions they’re on the same machine .

unlikely in this case, unless you use an automated service. for example if you use google photos as a backup for photos and video it wont upload if encrypted so the second your computer gets infected google wont read the files and hence wont update them. but if you use a service that “backs up your hard drive” your…

I’d rather just format my HD then pay ..... But that’s because I keep backups.

This article and its purpose reminds me of a friend :

Guy has never touched a motorcycle.

Guy meets other guy who owns a motorcycle.

Guy is like a child seeing a new toy in store window.

Guy asks other guy if he can test drive his motorcycle.

Other guy says yes to this guy.

Guy gets on bike, turns the gas up to over 9000.

Guy…

Never rely on a safety.

Exactly. I don’t understand people who agree abstinence is bad for sex ed, but perfectly fine for firearms safety.

To those people:

The NRA’s Eddie Eagle program for kids is much simpler. If you see a gun:

I think a lot of anti-gun zealots tend to close their eyes as hard as they can and plug their ears when guns are discussed. I would think that I would want to know as much as I could about something if I were looking to regulate it out of existence, but maybe that is me.

I did have someone who was flabberghasted when…

It’s actually quite amazing how many people die from guns simply because they were doing something stupid with them and not treating them with the respect they deserve as deadly weapons. I have heard countless stories of people pointing them at their own head and pulling the trigger, just to demonstrate that the…

Excellent article. This is only in my opinion, but its something that should be taught in schools. Guns require respect of their capabilities and knowledge of safe handling, the same for any power tool or vehicle you may come across. I say the word ‘handling’ only as it is up to an individual to decide whether or not…

don't rob someone in the south with a knife

But no one wants to hear that. I’d imagine this won’t be the only comment like this. Thanks for the article.

Fantastic article, and much appreciated. I learned a few things here.

Reality isn’t politics. Guns won’t go away tomorrow even if we wish they would.

Great write up, Wes.