I have DropBox, a paid version of it. Some folders I can access from my computer and some I have unchecked that I can only access to them online.
I have been concerned about ransomeware where your computer is all locked up and you have to pay to unlock it or have your hard drive wiped clean. What would happen to your Dropbox folders and files if they were erased one way or another? I read that you would never pay the ransome but rather have your hard drive wiped clean. I only use one computer so no cell phone or tablet.
So, I wrote to Dropbox about this issue, and I got this answer:
"Thanks for reaching out to us! If I understand you correctly, you're wondering if your files in your Dropbox can be infected with Ransomware.
Your Dropbox folder is just a normal folder on your hard drive. Therefore, if a program can make changes, it will affect the files in the Dropbox folder.
It's common to assume Dropbox works like a network drive because of its many online features. However, your Dropbox folder is actually a normal folder and its contents are stored on your hard drive. The Dropbox application only watches your Dropbox folder for changes and syncs those changes online and to your other computers. One of the benefits of this way of syncing is always having access to your files, even while you are offline.
However, unlike other folders on your computer, the Dropbox folder can be reset with a rollback to prior the infection. This is a free service that we offer and it will allow you to pick up exactly where you left off."
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I thought DropBox was a "cloud"?? I asked about this "rollback" and I haven't gotten an answer yet. I was just wondering if anyone here ever had to deal with restoring folders and files in a "cloud" account which I think dropbox is due your hard drive being wiped out one way or another? What is this "rollback" and how is it accomplished and does it mean you get all of your folders and files back that were there before you were infected? It sounds like you do, but how to do that I don't know yet.
I don't have ransomware going on that I know of, but it is good to know if something that drastic happened what will I lose forever. I do have flash drive back ups, but not with absolutely everything I'm sure.
I always thought my Dropbox account folders and files would be protected because they were stored online, but apparently not. Thank you.
Here is my answer this morning from DropBox. I replied to it and asked about what steps I would have to take for DropBox to restore all of my folders and files that would have been wiped out or corrupted on my hard drive that were in Dropbox. So now I am waiting on that reply. This is a real education on the "Cloud" and that your files aren't there as such without taking some steps to get them restored should your computer suffer a ransomeware attack and they are lost or corrupted, is my understanding.:
"Hi Linda,
Thanks for getting back to me.
Dropbox stores the files locally on your computer so that you have access to the files that you need 24/7. The files are then copied to our servers which then shares information with any linked device. While this means your files will more than likely have been affected, we keep any and all changes to files from within 30-days (up to one year with Extended Version History) so we can undo the damage.
What this means that we can reset your account to prior to your infection. You don't need to pay and we can get you back up and running."
Here is my latest reply from DropBox. I am so glad that I wrote to them as I am learning so much, but not yet sure I am fully understanding how they actually restore their files. If your account is locked up how can you share an "event link"? More questions...
"Hi Linda,
Thanks for getting back to me.
By default, users can restore all files that were deleted in the previous 30 days. Extended Version History is a paid add-on that provides deletion recovery and version history beyond 30 days.
This add-on allows you to restore files and version history up to one year from the date of the purchase.
So for example, if you purchase Extended Version History on January 1, 2015, you will have access to all deletions and previous versions after the purchase date until January 2, 2016. At this point, you will only have access to previous versions and deletions from January 2, 2015 onward, because Extended Version History offers only one year of version recovery.
Please note that Extended Version History is not retroactiveâ€"the history of the revisions starts from the date of the purchase of the add-on. Any files that were deleted more than 30 days before purchasing the add-on will not be made recoverable with the purchase of Extended Version History.
For more information on Extended Version history please see the following article in our Help Center:
https://www.dropbox.com/help/113
We restore files via event links. If you can provide us an event link to when the virus first made changes, we can reset your account to prior that. This effectively makes it like it never happened.
For instructions for obtaining the correct links, please visit:
https://www.dropbox.com/help/9230
However, I just want to add that if we roll back your whole Dropbox to a certain point, the additions and edits you've made of files since that point may also be lost. I would recommend, if you have to do this, making a separate copy (outside of your Dropbox) of any recent changes that you would like to keep so that you don't lose any important changes.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Ethan"