Set up and perform regular backups

Case study: The importance of backing up your devices  

The Croft family's home computer was hacked by cybercriminals and infected with ransomware. 

Tanya's teenage son Ben was using the computer to do an assignment. During his research he downloaded many files and documents. When he tried to open them later, he noticed that the files didn't have the usual file extension.  

Ben asked his mum for help. Tanya noticed many files and family photos were password protected. A note came up on screen asking for a ransom payment in Bitcoin to regain access to the files. 

Realising it was a cyber attack, Tanya didn't pay the ransom. She followed the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre's (ASD’s ACSC) ransomware emergency response guide and reported the incident straight away through ASD's ACSC’s ReportCyber. 

Tanya was able to use a backup drive to restore the family's files. But as it had been a few weeks since the last backup, some important files like Ben's assignment were gone.  

This case shows why it's important to back up your devices often or turn on automatic backups. It's the best way to protect yourself from ransomware and other online threats.  

The ASD’s ACSC is here to help all Australians affected by cyber incidents. Call our hotline 24/7 on 1300 CYBER1 (1300 292 371) if you need help or go to ReportCyber.