I am really hoping someone has an idea of how to go about this. Before I start
let me say I have only gotten started on this but it is outside my normal area
of expertise so I will be looking on the web.
Issue
Wife (yes my wife) ignored me about doing backups, not blocking updates, and
being more careful about her browsing habits. She managed to get bit by a
crypto virus which I can get the name of if necessary. All of her files have
been encrypted including a 5.3 GB PST. Her email is Gmail and I set her up to
use POP, more than that is just too hard for her. She is not dumb by any
stretch just very stubborn, and in some computer areas extremely smart.
Security is just not one of those areas. While I know enough to be able to do
some simple security work I don't pretend to be a Security person. Anyway I
have removed the bugs, all were specific to her profile only (thank God she is
only a user). I have used a Linux distro to archive the two copies of her
profile, you do know there are two copies right? Well anyway on a previous
virus infection I got luck (to bad not this time) and only one of the copies
was damaged. I am still doing some clean-up but at the moment it appears both
copies were encrypted. Normally I would just tell the user, so sorry/to bad
and blow the machine away and start over. That will not be possible as this is
my wife and for those with a SO and like to keep peace in the house you would
know that is not happening unless there is no other way.
Question
Has anyone found a way OTHER than paying these creeps off to get these files
de-encrypted? Like I said I am still in the cleanup and getting the machine
ready for use again and have not yet done any web searches. Oh and paying them
off is not even is the room with the table!
Side note
Why is it the IT person is the one blamed when a user ignores what we tell them
and gets bit by a bug?
Thanks for any ideas or suggestions,
Jon
